This brief survey endeavours to highlight the major points of the Edwards Report to provide background for the more detailed contributions and discussions to follow. It is perhaps worth repeating the terms of reference of the Committee:

“To enquire into the economic and financial situation and prospects of the British civil air transport industry and into the methods of regulating competition and of licensing currently employed; and to propose with due attention to other forms of transport in this country, what changes may be desirable to enable the industry to make its full contribution to the development of the economy and to the service and safety of the travelling public.“