Business leaders across the north and north-east have entered the debate over the future of airport capacity in the UK.
A group of senior figures have signed a letter backing the Airports Commission’s recommendation that expansion proceed at Heathrow.
It calls on the Conservative government at Westminster to deliver a “swift and positive” response to the commission’s final report which sets out a timetable for a parliamentary vote to take place by next summer at the latest.
Prime Minister David Cameron has said he will make a decision by the end of the year.
Among those endorsing the letter, sent to the Press and Journal, are Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management; Stewart Spence, owner of the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa; Stewart Nicol, chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce and offshore industry doyen Sir Ian Wood.
Other names include James Walker, managing director of Speyside-based Walkers Shortbread, and Neil Gordon, chief executive of Subsea UK.
It has been co-ordinated by Gavin Hayes, director of the Let Britain Fly campaign, which backs Sir Howard Davies’s conclusion that a third runway at Heathrow would provide the best solution to Britain’s impending aviation capacity crisis.
He said the decision was not just about London and the south-east, given the issue affected the economic wellbeing of the whole of the British Isles, including Scotland.
“The Airports Commission found that a new runway at Heathrow could deliver up to £14billion in economic benefit for Scotland,” he said.
Prior to the commission’s report, the Let Britain Fly campaign did not come out in favour of a particular airport and would not be opposed to expansion at Gatwick if the UK Government decided to reject Sir Howard’s recommendation.
Mr Gilbert described new air links between Scottish cities and London as “vital” to help boost investment and growth opportunities.
And Mr Nicol insisted the Highlands and islands had suffered since losing its direct flight to Heathrow more than decade ago.
The letter signed by the business leaders argues the current lack of capacity is having negative impacts on the number of routes between Heathrow and the rest of the UK.
It also says that if the decline in frequency of links between Scottish cities and the rest of the UK continues, Scotland’s ability to do business with the world will be “stunted”.
It also points to the positive impact of expansion on tourism and highlights that 26% of UK exports – by value – go via Heathrow.
Last year, this included Scottish salmon worth £280million, accounting for Heathrow’s largest export by tonnage.
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