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14/05/2013
Ministers Discuss NI/UK Aviation Links
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy have met with Sir Howard Davies, Chairman of the UK Airports Commission, to discuss Northern Ireland's contribution to the UK's position as an international transport hub.
The Airports Commission was set up last year to identify and recommend to government options for maintaining the UK’s status as an international hub for aviation.
The Commission also seeks to safeguard links with the UK's main aviation hub, Heathrow.
Following the meeting, Arlene Foster said: "Northern Ireland residents, and business and tourism travellers, are simply not able to avail of rail links or other land based transport options to access airports in GB. This is especially true of Heathrow, which is crucial, not only for access to London and the South East, but also for onward travel to the rest of the world. It is important that the Airports Commission takes account of the unique position of Northern Ireland."
Minister Danny Kennedy said: "Our airports are important gateways for economic development, freight distribution and tourism. They facilitate the movement of nearly seven million people and around £1bn worth of goods in 2012. As Transport Minister, I have made Sir Howard aware that any changes to internal connectivity within the UK may have a disproportionate impact on Northern Ireland and that when making recommendations to central Government this must be made clear."
The Commission is to examine how the UK can remain Europe’s "most important aviation hub".
It will publish an interim report by the end of this year and its final recommendations in summer 2015.
(IT/MH)
The Airports Commission was set up last year to identify and recommend to government options for maintaining the UK’s status as an international hub for aviation.
The Commission also seeks to safeguard links with the UK's main aviation hub, Heathrow.
Following the meeting, Arlene Foster said: "Northern Ireland residents, and business and tourism travellers, are simply not able to avail of rail links or other land based transport options to access airports in GB. This is especially true of Heathrow, which is crucial, not only for access to London and the South East, but also for onward travel to the rest of the world. It is important that the Airports Commission takes account of the unique position of Northern Ireland."
Minister Danny Kennedy said: "Our airports are important gateways for economic development, freight distribution and tourism. They facilitate the movement of nearly seven million people and around £1bn worth of goods in 2012. As Transport Minister, I have made Sir Howard aware that any changes to internal connectivity within the UK may have a disproportionate impact on Northern Ireland and that when making recommendations to central Government this must be made clear."
The Commission is to examine how the UK can remain Europe’s "most important aviation hub".
It will publish an interim report by the end of this year and its final recommendations in summer 2015.
(IT/MH)
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