Heathrow’s third runway will increase the number of connecting flights with other airports, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has said.
Speaking in the Commons, Grayling said six regional airports could join the Heathrow hub network, raising the total to 14.The additional airports are likely to be Belfast, Liverpool, Newquay, Prestwick Humberside, and Durham Tees Valley.
He revealed this during the launching of a public consultation on a new runway, which will begin operation in 2025. The project had been delayed for many years before the government, October last year, chose Heathrow as its preferred option for expansion
According to Mr Grayling, a third runway would create tens of thousands of employment opportunities and boost Britain’s economy as it prepares for Brexit.
"By backing the north-west runway at Heathrow airport and publishing our proposals, we are sending a clear signal that when we leave the EU, we are open for business," he said.
Mr Grayling added that Heathrow’s third runway would strengthen the UK’s links with the rest of the world.
He told MPs: "Leaving the EU is a new chapter for Britain and provides us with a great opportunity to forge a new role in the world. We are determined to seize that opportunity and having the right infrastructure in place will allow us to build a more global Britain."
The Transport Secretary also issued a consultation document on updating Britain’s airspace infrastructure and investing in new technology. The two consultations to be carried out together will run until 25 May, after which final decisions are expected late this year or early next year.
The third runway is estimated to cost £22bn and projected to generate about 70,000 jobs. With an expanded capacity, Heathrow will see 260,000 more take-offs or landings, from the current 480,000 cap.
However, the project is likely to face significant opposition, especially on grounds of noise pollution.