CAA proposes 4.7% rise in General Aviation charges for 2026–27

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched its annual consultation on statutory charges, proposing increases across all regulatory areas for the 2026–27 financial year — including a 4.7% rise in most General Aviation (GA) fees.

The increase, which the CAA says reflects inflation (4.1%) plus a 0.6% contribution to its legislative reform programme, would apply from 1 April 2026. It forms part of a wider plan to boost total CAA income by 5.5%, funding new regulatory initiatives and pay awards while maintaining financial sustainability.

For GA, the proposed 4.7% uplift will affect licensing, airworthiness, registration and oversight fees, alongside a handful of new or revised charges. These include:

• A three-year renewal option for SERA.6001 speed limitation exemptions, designed to reduce paperwork and improve efficiency.
• A new £653 charge for exemptions from the requirement to hold a Display Authorisation (DA), reflecting the additional effort involved compared with standard DA processing.
• Part-SPO continuation fees to be standardised across complex and non-complex aircraft operators at £494, closing what the CAA calls an “inconsistent approach”.
• Revised pricing for large-scale air displays — reducing charges for events with more than 18 display items to encourage growth and “remove the disincentive” to expand line-ups.

The consultation also highlights progress from the GA Licensing Simplification project, which has rationalised pilot licence categories and is expected to reduce training costs for many private pilots. However, it notes that new or updated fees will be required for the issue of Sailplane and Balloon licences and examiner ratings introduced under the new framework.

Across all sectors, the CAA argues that its charging model remains equitable and sustainable, ensuring “users pay for the services they consume” rather than relying on taxpayer support. The regulator points to £16 million in efficiency savings achieved over the past three years, though it warns that further cost pressures make below-inflation increases unsustainable.

The CAA’s consultation is open until 22 December 2025, with the final decision and charging schemes due in March 2026. Responses can be submitted online here:

consultations.caa.co.uk/finance/caa-statutory-charges-consultation-26-27