MSP calls for London Northolt option to be examined
A Highlands and Islands MSP has called for a new solution to ensure that air passengers from the "forgotten regions" of the UK can in effect fly into London's busiest airport.
Mr David Stewart believes that flights from regions such as the Highlands and Cornwall could land at RAF Northolt if it was used as a satellite reliever runway for Heathrow.
Mr Stewart, who is deputy convener of the Cross Party Group on Aviation, has written to Phillip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Defence, on the matter.
He is urging the use of RAF Northolt - only six miles north of London Heathrow - for regional air carriers such as bmi Regional, Eastern, and Flybe.
Mr Stewart (Labour) said: "RAF Northholt is only six miles north of Heathrow with excellent underground services to central London and is a fully operational airport.
"It already operates in parallel with Heathrow for its existing operations in support of the MOD and for 7,000 business aviation movements per year and was used very successfully in support of the London Olympic Games.
"This is not an alternative to the residual easyJet services in Gatwick which will hopefully continue after FlyBe withdraw from their Gatwick domestic operations, although the campaign to keep slots for Inverness continues, but an enhancement to link regions such as Inverness to the UK’s global hub at London Heathrow which would benefit the economy, businesses, inward investment and tourism."
Laurie Price is an aviation expert and former adviser to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee and Highlands & Islands Airports.
He said: "The use of RAF Northolt is an excellent idea to allow air traffic from regional airports, such as Inverness, which have long lost or been denied direct service to London Heathrow, to gain or regain access to London Heathrow which is only six miles away.
"With the loss of the multiple daily full service links to London Gatwick from many UK regional points by FlyBe and recognising that the MOD is keen to make better use of Northolt and increase the revenue from commercial operations; this would provide an opportunity to improve regional air service connectivity to the global air network at Heathrow and meet the MOD objectives whilst the Government decides on its longer term policy and priorities for aviation through the Davies Commission Airport study."
