Business leaders are calling on government to end decades of inaction and “stem the haemorrhaging” of flight links from Inverness and Aberdeen.
Sir Howard Davies, Chairman of the Airports Commission, will visit the two cities on Monday to discuss the body’s work and hear from stakeholders about issues over air access.
The commission was formed by the government to investigate the options for expanding the UK’s aviation capacity and try to come up with a plan. A final report is due to be published by mid-2015.
The Scottish Council for Development & Industry (SCDI) is facilitating the visit and will use the opportunity to safeguard connections to and through London as part of any new capacity.
Michael Urquhart, Managing Director of whisky firm Gordon and MacPhail and SCDI Highlands & Islands Chairman, said:
“The inability of Heathrow and Gatwick to expand has seen commercially viable domestic routes squeezed out through landing fees, or substituted for more lucrative services. This has seen air access from UK regions into these key airports eroded, impacting on our competitiveness and the ability of businesses to access the global markets they need to grow.
“SCDI continue to work with partners to highlight the need for action to stem the haemorrhaging of our air connections and to see action taken to ring fence slots for domestic connections as part of any additional runway capacity.
“We hope that Sir Howard will argue in his final report the importance of air access through the UK’s hub airport for the success of Scottish business.”
Colin Parker, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Harbour and SCDI’s north-east Chairman, added: “Aberdeen is a booming economic powerhouse which relies on a network of global air connectivity in order to export the skills and expertise it has developed over decades as Europe’s energy capital.
“We must see those connections spread to new markets through international hubs like Heathrow if the city is to continue to be a leader in the sector and play its full part in the country’s economic success for generations to come.”
Ross Martin, SCDI Chief Executive, said:
“Scotland has continued to see air access to international markets set for take off, but left on the runway, both in London, where capacity is constrained at Heathrow and Gatwick, and due to a lack of direct flights from Scottish airports.
“It is vital to ensure that these twin engines for economic growth are energised to allow our exports and international trade, both of which fall well short of potential, to reach for the skies”.
“SCDI therefore welcomes the work of Sir Howard’s Commission and hopes that after decades of inaction the UK Government will now deliver the additional airport capacity our economy demands.”