The Scotland Office will argue vociferously for the funding Dundee needs to create a new flight route to Amsterdam and secure the future of the city’s airport.
A decision is expected in the coming weeks as to whether an application to the Regional Air Connectivity Fund will be looked upon favourably.
The link to Amsterdam could be a huge coup for Dundee Airport as the Dutch hub has become one of Europe’s most important, offering connections to a vast network of worldwide destinations.
Scotland Office Minister Andrew Dunlop told The Courier: “Success and attracting people into Dundee, there are many facets to it.
“Connectivity is a really important aspect. One of the ways in which the UK Government is able to help is through the Regional Air Connectivity Fund, with £3 million to help support a route from Dundee to London Stansted.
“There’s a fresh round of bidding going on at the minute and Dundee has pitched its hat into the ring to develop a new route from Dundee to Amsterdam and it is very much my role in the Scotland Office to be banging the drum for Dundee as that bidding process goes forward.”
The SNP’s Dundee West MP Chris Law and MEP Ian Hudghton have lobbied UK ministers to step in to help establish a permanent flight route. The duo have written to UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin asking for support.
Dundee Airport has not had its troubles to seek in recent months, with flagging passenger numbers, strike action and a slow uptake for its Stansted service.
Baron Dunlop said opening more routes into Dundee could help further invigorate other successful sectors in the city, singling out the life sciences industry as an example.
“That is providing high-end skills in an area like Dundee but just the success of that industry in Dundee is creating a stronger economy, creating more opportunities across the piece in Dundee,” he said.
“It’s about connectivity. It’s about making those connections for companies in Scotland with a global community.”