Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Heathrow Airport Limited-funded Route Development Fund, whether he has secured a legal agreement on (a) how long the fund is continued by Heathrow Airport Limited (b) how much money is invested by (i) his Department and (i) Heathrow Airport Limited in the fund and (c) the conditions associated with the fund’s operation; and if he will make a statement.

The Government welcomes Heathrow Airport Limited’s (HAL’s) pledge to introduce a £10 million Route Development Fund. HAL’s commitment to this fund will provide start-up support for airlines seeking to introduce new domestic routes from an expanded Heathrow Airport. Importantly, this fund will be entirely privately funded with no contribution from the taxpayer.

Government does not have any legal agreements in place with Heathrow on the fund. The proposed Airports National Policy Statement requires HAL to work constructively with its airline customers to protect and strengthen existing routes and it sets a clear expectation that expansion should deliver at least six new routes. This will be assessed as part of any Development Consent Order application.