Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential change in the level of total air traffic movements at (a) Heathrow Airport, (b) London airports, (c) Manchester Airport, (d) Newcastle Airport, (e) Glasgow Airport and (f) throughout the UK as a result of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

The Government has fully assessed the impact of expansion in the South East on the UK’s connectivity. As set out in Chapter 3 of the Updated Appraisal Report. The Government is clear that a Northwest Runway at Heathrow will help to secure the UK’s status as a global aviation hub, while regional airports will continue to develop their point-to-point networks.

This conclusion is supported by the analysis which shows that passenger numbers and international flights at airports outside London are expected to increase by 80% and 71% respectively between 2016 and 2050 with a third runway at Heathrow. In addition, passengers from all across the UK are expected to use the connections made available at an expanded Heathrow, with nearly 6 million additional trips from passengers outside London and the South East being made via the airport in 2040.

The expected number of Air Transport Movements at each of the listed airports, both with and without expansion, is given in Annex E (Tables 66 & 67) of the UK Aviation Forecasts 2017 report.