Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to develop a long-term strategy for regional air connectivity that (a) reduces reliance on (i) Gatwick Airport (ii) Heathrow Airport and (iii) other major hubs and (b) supports the growth of (1) Cornwall Airport Newquay and (2) other regional airports.

The Department recognises how vital aviation is to maintaining connectivity between the regions of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and to the wider world. Ministers and officials at the Department meet regularly with regional airports, including Cornwall Newquay Airport, to discuss issues such as regional air connectivity.

Government supports connectivity across the union through our joint-funding of three Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes into London from Newquay, Dundee and Derry/Londonderry.

The Government keeps PSO policy under review. This includes recommendations made through the Union Connectivity Review published in November 2021.