Flights from Dundee to Heathrow will be so popular that the likely new route should not require state subsidies, a Tory minister has predicted.
Scottish airports are set to benefit from an extra 100 flights a week to and from London as part of the UK Government’s third runway plan to ring-fence slots for domestic routes.
Aviation Minister Elizabeth Sugg expects Dundee to take advantage.
She told The Courier: “Flybe have identified it as a possible route they are interested in and obviously with all the attractions Dundee has got to offer, with the golf and the V&A opening soon, the demand will be there for those flights.
“So absolutely we think Dundee will benefit.”
In a major endorsement for Dundee Airport, David Cameron’s former head of operations said the Heathrow discount of £15 per person for domestic routes should mean the journey does not need public cash.
Dundee is already served by an air link to Stansted, but relies on £1.8 million a year of government subsidy through public service obligation (PSO) funding.
Baroness Sugg raised the prospect of the city having air routes into both Heathrow and Stansted at the same time, saying: “With the reduction in pricing and increase in slots it could be possible that they (Dundee flights) go into both. Obviously there wouldn’t be a PSO route into both.”
The minister was in Scotland on Thursday, ahead of a crucial Commons vote next week on the third runway expansion, which is opposed by some Tory MPs south of the border.
The UK Government is trying to shore up support from Scottish MPs. Baroness Sugg said they would be key to securing majority backing for the project.
“We’re reserving 15% of the new slots at Heathrow for domestic use and that’s going to mean about 100 new weekly flights for Scotland,” she said.
“We’ll be reserving those slots to make sure that they continue to be used for Scotland.”
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Heathrow has an important part to play in helping secure better connections to Scotland and the rest of the UK.
“Passenger numbers between Heathrow and Scotland were up 7% last year and we are working with the Scottish Government to further strengthen existing routes, including halving our domestic passenger charges.
“With expansion we have the potential to connect new cities across Scotland, such as Dundee, which we will support with a £10m route development fund.
“This is part of our wider 9-point connectivity plan which will help to boost tourism and exporting opportunities for Scotland.”
Christine Jardine, the Lib Dem MP, said the 100 extra Scottish flights was a “flightplan for climate chaos”.
“We should be focusing on cheaper, better and faster rail services instead,” she said.
UK ministers are confident the third runway will be up-and-running by 2026.
