Heathrow access would be complete game-changer for Derry's economy

Loganair has called on the UK Government to safeguard runway slots at London Heathrow to create new domestic air connectivity to the UK’s largest hub.

The slots were originally designed as competition commitments for domestic routes following the 2012 take-over of bmi British Midland. After the collapse of Flybe for a second time at the end of January, the slots are not being flown today.

Loganair has now asked the Government to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to make the seven daily pairs of slots available for new connectivity for the UK regions to Heathrow.

Loganair’s Chief Executive, Jonathan Hinkles, said: “Access to Heathrow would be a complete game-changer for the regional economy. It is impossible to think of another single initiative which could bring about such significant steps forward in Union connectivity and levelling up for the UK regions.”

The slots are presently earmarked exclusively for the Aberdeen and Edinburgh to Heathrow routes under the terms of the original competition commitments dating from 2012. 

Mr Hinkles has written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper MP, to lead an initiative across Government to take back control of the competition commitments from the EU and bring about the technical changes to enable these slots to be used on other routes, such as City of Derry to Heathrow, in future.

The airline’s call has been emphatically backed by City of Derry Airport and Heathrow.

Heathrow Airport’s Chief Executive, John Holland-Kaye, supported the initiative, stating: “Guaranteeing morning and evening flights into Heathrow would provide lifeline connectivity to underserved communities across the UK, promoting inward investment from our world-class long haul market, tourism and economic growth.

“Since 2017, we have offered a significant domestic passenger discount, helping to support airlines establishing new and successful domestic routes at the UK’s only hub airport.

"We wholeheartedly back industry calls for the administration of remedy slots to be brought under the Government’s jurisdiction, with the aim to promote greater connectivity between Heathrow and the UK’s nations and regions.”

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Steve Frazer, Managing Director of City of Derry Airport, said: “For areas such as City of Derry and Strabane, access to Heathrow would be a complete game-changer for the regional economy.

"Inward tourism, inward investment and worldwide connectivity for the community would all be within reach for the first time, creating new local jobs and truly ‘levelling up’ its transport links.

"A conservative estimate is that this could bring over £15 million in benefit to the local economy with no more cost to the taxpayer.”

In the letter to Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, the Loganair Chief Executive writes: “The commitments have proven ineffective as two airlines (Virgin’s Little Red and now Flybe) have each tried and failed on the Aberdeen and Edinburgh routes for which these domestic slots were exclusively earmarked.

Steve Frazer, Managing Director of City of Derry Airport

"I trust you would agree that it makes no sense to compel any future operator of those slots to repeat this failure by continuing to confine their use to those specific domestic routes.

“I’d urge you and colleagues in the UK Government to take swift action to turn this exciting and once-in-a-generation opportunity into a reality for all.”

If successful, the Loganair-led initiative could also open up opportunity for other airlines providing connectivity to other UK regions to access Heathrow for the first time.

Under the proposals, the slots would not become the property of any individual airline but instead would be available in perpetuity to assure access for the UK regions to Heathrow.