Oral Answers to Questions

Greg Hands Excerpts

Thursday 5th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Chris Grayling]

We have of course been working to ensure that the cost of the original scheme was brought down in order to avoid a 70% rise in landing charges, but I have been clear that the requirement to set aside around 15% of slots for regional connections is non-negotiable and fixed. It will not be possible to change those slots to long-haul destinations because they are an essential part of the reform.

[Greg Hands (Chelsea and Fulham) (Con)]

When will the flightpaths be published?

[Chris Grayling]

I expect that we will complete plans for airspace modernisation over the coming months. There will be a rolling programme in the early 2020s, and I expect details of that plan to be made clear, probably in 2019.