Commenting on the Airports Commission’s recommendation to build a third runway at Heathrow in order to enhance airport capacity in the South East of England, Liz Cameron, Director and Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:

“The Airports Commission has spent a considerable time assessing the options for the expansion of airport capacity in the South East of England and it is now time for the UK Government to act with urgency to put this recommendation into practice.

“The Commission has concluded that the third runway at Heathrow provides the most economically advantageous option for the UK.  It is now the duty of Government to put the economic future of Britain ahead of politics and deliver what business needs.

“The expansion of capacity at Heathrow has many potential benefits for Scotland, but only if our air links to Heathrow improve.  We want to see more slots at Heathrow reserved for domestic air services, allowing services from Inverness to be re-established and ensuring a competitive market for Scotland’s other principal airports.  With these in place, an expanded Heathrow will be an essential component in developing Scotland’s international connectivity and our exporting potential.”