Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to improve connections between existing airports in the period before the proposed new runway at Heathrow Airport opens.

Airports and airlines operate in the private sector, it is therefore for airlines to determine which routes they operate. However Government recognises the importance of protecting existing domestic air routes to London that are in danger of being lost. Where appropriate Government will look to protect these routes through public service obligations.

The Government’s current road and rail investment programmes are seeing huge levels of investment in our transport network which will provide improved rail and road links to and between our country’s cities and airports.

The Government plans to develop a new Aviation strategy to replace the 2013 Aviation Policy Framework next year. As part of developing the strategy Government will consider the role of connections between existing airports, and Government’s use of public service obligations.