Third runway at Heathrow 'vital' for regional airports

"Guaranteed flights" from all the UK regions, timed at the start and end of the working day, will be one benefit of expanding London Heathrow airport, the chief executive has said.

- SIMON CALDER

Speaking exclusively to The Independent, John Holland-Kaye said: "It's hugely important for the UK to have a world-class hub airport here. What I'd like to see is that we have guaranteed flights from all the UK regions, morning and evening, flying into Heathrow to connect to global markets."

Heathrow is the most "slot-constrained" major international airport in the world. In 2015 the Davies Commission recommended a third runway should be added to increase capacity at Heathrow by more than 50 per cent.

But the issue is extremely controversial, with court cases and Covid - with the consequent collapse of demand due to travel restrictions - delaying expansion plans. At present Heathrow has links from only two English airports, Manchester and Newcastle; four Scottish airports, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness; and Belfast City airport in Northern Ireland.