The chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce has warned a decision on airport expansion in south-east England has become even more urgent post-Brexit.
Stewart Nicol said in the context of the EU referendum vote, the single step of an announcement would go a long way to help quell uncertainty in the global business community.
Amid all the clamour about the need to maintain access to the single market, he insisted a commitment from the UK Government to increase capacity would be a “clear demonstration” Britain remains open to doing trade on the international stage.
Mr Nicol is down in London as part of a Scottish Chambers of Commerce delegation.
As well as meeting UK Government ministers and MPs, the group had the chance to open the markets at the London Stock Exchange yesterday.
He told the Press and Journal the new Heathrow link from the Highland capital was a great start, but added it was not frequent enough.
He also stressed the need to secure the route long-term, which would be helped by a decision on expansion.
“Anyone in London trying to do a day’s business in Inverness can’t do it. They can’t get up and back in a day,” he said.
“What’s that saying to the international business community about how well connected we are?
“Until the airports decision is taken, we can’t progress. It would say we are open for business.
“How important could that be in the context of Brexit. It could really be a clear demonstration of just how open we are to doing global trade.
“In a single step, that would be a massive commitment to doing trade globally.”
The Conservatives have faced repeated accusations of kicking the Airports Commission’s final report – which recommended a third Heathrow runway – into touch.
David Cameron promised a decision by the end of last year, but it was put back to this summer.
The now ex-transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin then said it would be “at least October” before an announcement, following the UK’s vote to leave the EU.
A Department for Transport spokesman said the case for aviation expansion was clear.
But he added: “It’s vitally important we get the decision right so that it will benefit generations to come.”