Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has welcomed recommendations from the Airports Commission which support his campaign to put in place statutory guarantees for the long term future of air routes between the national hub airport of Heathrow and the various UK regions, including Northern Ireland.  

Lord Empey said;

“I am concerned that the Heathrow slots owned by commercial airlines which currently serve aircraft to and from Belfast could be vulnerable if airlines seek to transfer them to more lucrative routes.   

“I therefore want to put in place a long-term guarantee that there will be access for flights from Belfast to London Heathrow, given its importance to Northern Ireland’s future economic well-being and have introduced a Private Members’ Bill into Parliament to protect landing slots at Heathrow Airport for UK regions, with a view to enacting legislation to secure the vital link between Belfast and Heathrow.

“As part of my campaign I contacted the Airports Commission and their response confirmed that the EU Slot Regulations do grant Member States powers to safeguard air services to specific settlements and that this can be achieved through ‘Public Service Obligations’ (PSOs) ‘which allow a Member State to support and if necessary subsidise air services to peripheral regions, or air services which are considered of vital economic importance to the region.’   

“The Commission recommends that the Government ‘should amend its guidance on the use of PSOs allowing them to be used on an airport-to-airport basis’ .. and that ..’in making this change the Government would be recognising the existing domestic air links to Heathrow and Gatwick...”

“I very much welcome these recommendations because they support my campaign to protect domestic connectivity between regional airports – including Belfast – and the national hub of Heathrow.  

“I believe that this issue is of vital importance to Northern Ireland PLC and I shall continue to pursue it vigorously.”