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<p>The Regional Air Connectivity Fund was announced by the previous Government to
provide up to £20 million annually to maintain existing domestic air routes to London
that may be withdrawn, and to support new air routes from airports handling fewer
than 5 million passengers per annum though start-up aid.</p><p> </p><p>The Government
has already made £5.2 million available to maintain the existing air links between
Dundee and Stansted airports, and between Newquay and Gatwick airports, and will continue
to consider support for other routes that may be withdrawn.</p><p> </p><p>In addition,
the Department last year undertook a tender process for airlines to bid for funding
for start-up aid for new air routes. A total of eleven bids were received and the
government announced last November that up to £7 million would be provided to support
all eleven routes. It is now for the airlines to start operating these routes, with
payments from the fund made upon delivery of the agreed service.</p><p> </p><p>We
are now considering whether to take forward further start-up funding rounds and will
make an announcement later this year.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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