Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider the introduction of new rules to ensure that no airfield can be closed without a full independent economic appraisal and audit of its contribution to local, national and international connectivity.

The majority of airfields in the UK are privately owned and operated. Operational decisions are therefore a commercial matter.

The Government will be starting work on a new aviation strategy this year. We will be considering a number of issues within the general aviation sector and the role that aerodromes play in supporting connectivity.