Chris Cain is Strategy and Policy Director for the Regional and Business Airports (RABA) Group and Managing Director of Northpoint Aviation, an aviation, travel and tourism consultancy specialising in regional aviation, transport and economic development.

He has worked in the industry for over 25 years over 25 years’ experience in aviation strategy, airport planning, policy, regulation, commercial development and regional economic development, spanning senior roles in the Department for Transport, as Airport Director at Newquay Airport and most recently in trade association leadership and private consultancy.

At RABA, Chris provides strategic policy direction, research and advocacy for the UK’s smaller regional and business airports, helping to represent their interests to Government, the Civil Aviation Authority, Parliament and wider industry stakeholders. His work focuses on the role regional airports play in supporting local economies, strengthening national connectivity, providing capacity beyond the London system, enabling freight, business aviation and special mission operations, and supporting future opportunities in innovation driven areas such as advanced air mobility, sustainable aviation and aviation-related employment.

As Managing Director of Northpoint Aviation, Chris advises airports, local authorities, government bodies, regulators, investors and infrastructure promoters on airport strategy, demand forecasting, masterplanning, business planning, commercial revenue development, environmental policy and economic impact. His work has included major airport development and reopening projects, regional connectivity studies, air freight forecasting, route development, and maximising commercial revenue streams and economic impacts and as well as strategic policy advice for airports and public bodies across the UK and internationally.

Chris previously led the transformation of Newquay Cornwall Airport from military enclave to a free standing civilian airport with responsibility for terminal and apron expansion, route growth, commercial development and wider economic positioning. Earlier in his career, he was Head of Regional Airports Policy at the Department for Transport, where he played a central role in the 2003 Air Transport White Paper, regional airport policy, airport masterplanning guidance, surface access strategy guidance and the development of regional route support mechanisms.

He brings to this discussion a practical understanding of the opportunities and constraints facing regional airports: how they support local communities and economies; how they can accommodate growth where London and the South East face increasing capacity pressures; how smaller airports can make better use of land, property, cargo, business aviation, training, maintenance and nonaeronautical revenue streams; and how policy, planning and investment frameworks can help unlock their wider national and regional value.