Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, by what means the Government plans to hold Heathrow Airport to account in the event that new air routes are not secured through the Airports National Policy Statement in line with paragraph 3.34 of that statement.

The Airports National Policy Statement is clear that the Government requires Heathrow Airport Limited to work with its airlines to protect existing routes and deliver at least six new connections. This will be examined as part of any Development Consent Order application.

In parallel, the Government will also take action, where appropriate, to secure routes through the use of Public Service Obligations. This will include the ring-fencing of appropriately timed slots. The Government’s commitments on domestic connectivity will be detailed in a Green Paper on the Aviation Strategy which is due to be published towards the end of this year.