Bosses at Edinburgh Airport fear for Scottish tourism following Heathrow decision

The UK Government has given the go-ahead to a third runway at Heathrow.

Published 25th Oct 2016

Bosses at Edinburgh Airport say they are worried that a decision to expand London's Heathrow Airport will have a negative impact on Scottish tourism.

The UK Government made the long-awaited decision to create a third runway at a committee meeting today.

But speaking to Forth News, Edinburgh Aiport's Communications Director, Gordon Robertson said: "We've been very clear from the start that Gatwick offered a better deal for Scotland, and we believed that the Heathrow plan was undeliverable. We also think that the expansion risks monopolising the market, which is bad for passengers.

"Where we a few years ago only had one long-haul flight, we now have seven. So we've been increasing the number of direct flights, and now our fear is that lots of flights will be channelled through Heathrow, which limits connectivity for Scotland.

"But this decision has dragged on too long already, and now that the decision has been made, we just hope that everybody can come together."

Edinburgh Airport is now calling on the Scottish Government to speed up its plans to cut Air Passenger Duty, as a response to the Heathrow decision.