Highlands' air interests must not be ignored
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The domestic air travel market for Scotland is "quite critical" to economic survival of regions such as the Highlands.
That is the view of Ali Gayward, head of Scotland at easyJet, which will introduce crucial new services linking Inverness and London later this month.
She spoke out recently in response to an interim report by the Airports Commission, which examines the need for additional UK airport capacity and recommends to the UK Government how this can be met in the short, medium and long-term.
Miss Gayward agrees with Inglis Lyon, managing director at Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, that it is vital that the north’s interests are not ignored in the ongoing debate about the future of air travel capacity in the UK.
"The south east is the biggest aviation market in the UK, but we absolutely believe that capacity should be provided where there is passenger demand for it," Miss Gayward said.
"I think there has to be a big focus on where the demand exists for services in the south east of England. There was so much focus on whether growth should be at Heathrow, but airports such as Gatwick, Stansted and Luton all offer excellent connections into London.
"So much of the travel through London is driven by demand from regional airports. The domestic market, particularly for places like Scotland and Northern Ireland, is quite critical to economic survival."
She added maintaining domestic air services was needed to ensure growth of regional economies.
On 31st March, easyJet will start operating early morning and evening flights connecting Inverness with Gatwick. These weekday services – currently operated by Flybe – are widely viewed as vital to the north economy.
Daily inbound and outbound flights linking the Highland capital to Gatwick and Luton are currently operated by easyJet, which will continue to offer connections with Luton after introducing its new services.
Mr Lyon has stressed HIAL’s submission to the commission made it clear that access to major hubs like Gatwick and Heathrow was essential for regional airports such as Inverness because it drives inward investment and tourism.
The commission has so far concluded an additional runway needs to be operational in the south east of England by 2030.
It set out in 2012 to investigate possibilities for expanding the UK’s aviation capacity and it has identified options in its interim report which include: a second runway at Gatwick, a third runway at Heathrow and the possible lengthening of the existing northern runway at Heathrow, enabling the extended runway to operate as two independent runways.
The north’s air links with London are seen as crucial to the economy in the Highlands and wider area.
The commission will undertake a public consultation in autumn, once it has carried out a detailed appraisal of proposals.
It has not shortlisted any options for the Thames Estuary because there are too many uncertainties and challenges surrounding them at this stage.
A view will be reached later this year on whether to offer a credible proposal for consideration alongside the other options.
A final report is expected in summer 2015 and will include recommendations on the process for decision making on additional capacity beyond 2030.
The commission’s analysis already indicates that there is likely to be a demand case for a second additional runway to be operational by 2050.
