Dundee braced for Heathrow decision

Dundee is poised to secure new flights to London after the man in charge of reviewing the UK’s airport capacity said the case for Heathrow is “overwhelming”.

Sir Howard Davies, the chairman of the Airports Commission, has backed expansion of the west London hub, with the UK Government to reveal its favoured scheme today.

The former chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland was appointed by Tory ministers to investigate the options and his views are seen as reflective of the UK Government’s thinking.

Heathrow bosses have already said that Dundee stands to benefit from expansion. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Sir Howard said the case for Heathrow expansion is now “overwhelming”.

The options are to build a third runway at Heathrow, extend an existing runway there, or open a second runway at Gatwick.

The UK cabinet, which includes MPs fiercely against a third runway, is set to reveal its preference today before a parliamentary vote next year.

Scottish ministers backed a third runway at Heathrow earlier this month, saying it would create 16,000 jobs in Scotland.

Inglis Lyon, managing director of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, which runs 11 regional airports in Scotland including Dundee, said: “A third runway offers more slots which would enable a second daily flight to and from Inverness Airport and would also open up the possibility of a direct flight from Dundee.”