Fly local

I congratulate Gordon Dewar, the CEO of Edinburgh Airport, and his aviation development colleagues for securing the Hainan Airlines route to China. I know how hard Johnny Raynor and the Edinburgh aviation colleagues have worked for this under Mr Dewar’s stewardship. It was no mean achievement and is great news for Scotland.

This said, I must take issue with Mr Dewar’s sentiments that Scottish MSPS are misplaced in supporting Scottish regions in their quest for better connectivity over Heathrow. Our association, the Regional and Business Airports Group, was formed four years ago out of a regional quest to achieve better global connectivity in the most accessible way.

Members include Inverness Airport and Prestwick Airport, as well as the smaller, more remote airports in Scotland. We believe that expanding the UK’S hub airport is crucial for the future connectivity of the UK and Scotland, and that it boosts, rather than limits, the growth of Scottish airports.

Flying from local airports is what passengers ask for most. Why? People and businesses need local connectivity in order to attract tourists to their regions, in order to create and maintain trade links and in order to develop employment opportunities.

The destination that delivers that global connectivity in the UK is Heathrow, and it is those links that regions are striving to develop for their own regional good. Having the ability to sell the end destination in a Scottish town or city over a connecting Heathrow flight literally puts our regions on the international booking map or reservation systems.

We also need our MSPS to work with officials and with Heathrow to ensure slots are ringfenced and safeguarded for regional airport access. This is working at other European hubs and our collective voice has ensured the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, has already committed to these principles in the best interests of the regions.

NEIL PAKEY Chairman, Regional and Business Airports Group, c/o Northpoint Aviation Services

Dalriada, Farr, Inverness