The past week has seen some really good progress for
Cornwall Airport Newquay with some exciting news for next year and some big
steps forward with other long term goals for this vital piece of transport
infrastructure in Mid-Cornwall.
It is difficult to overstate the importance of the airport
and the links it provides for business and tourist to the Cornish economy.
On 16 November I welcomed Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg to
the airport to discuss a number of matters relating to the future growth and
expansion of the airport.
With the airport celebrating its busiest year so far, with
460,000 passengers using it, I was also pleased to get that the minister
restated the Government’s support for the Newquay-London route via the recently
announced continuation of the Public Service Obligation.
At the same time I took the opportunity to continue to lobby
for the Heathrow route that people have been asking for, for years.
While the route to Gatwick has been a massive part of the
business for our airport, with 40% of passengers currently using the London
route, a regular link to Heathrow would provide even bigger and better
opportunities through a direct link to world markets. Heathrow offers great
connectivity to around 85 different countries including some of the faster
global economies.
In Parliament earlier this week I continued to lobby the
Secretary of State for Transport to win his support when he attended another
event I hosted to promote the bid for Spaceport Cornwall.
I was delighted then, when on Thursday the Secretary of
State announced the Governments support for a Heathrow connection.
The route will be run by Flybe, with the support of the
Government and Cornwall Council via the Public Service Obligation and will
replace the Newquay to Gatwick link. Flights will start in April 2019,
increasing from three to four a day, seven days a week.
The service to Heathrow, which is the world's second busiest
airport for international travel, will help businesses in Cornwall to compete
nationally and internationally, attracting inward investment and boosting
tourism.
It will also provide much-improved access to Central London
via the sixteen minute Heathrow Express service to Paddington, Piccadilly Line
and eventually the new Crossrail service.
This route will also open up possibilities for the export of
Cornish goods through Heathrow which is the UK’s biggest port by value of the
goods handled.
This is something I have worked hard with Ministerial
colleagues to bring to reality and I would also like to thank the Transport
team at Cornwall Council and management of Newquay airport for their work in
securing this.
I believe this new route will not only help the airport to
continue to grow but will also have a very positive impact on our local economy.
It can also only help our bid for the Spaceport which I continue to work for.
My team and I are here to serve the whole
constituency and work hard to make a real difference to the lives of everyone
needing support. The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 10.00am –
4.00pm (no appointment necessary). If there is an issue you would like my
assistance on then please, either visit the office or contact me on either
01726 829379 or office@stevedouble.org.uk. Additionally, I hold regular,
appointment only, advice surgeries across the constituency. Dates of these can
be found at: www.stevedouble.org.uk/events
