| answer text |
<p>The Secretary of State has set out a clear ambition that about 15% of slots made
available from a new runway should be used for domestic routes.</p><p> </p><p>The
Department’s modelling, which informed the economic case for the proposed Airports
National Policy Statement, is primarily intended to inform long-term strategic decision-making.
It does not account for specific airport business plans or potential interventions
such as Public Service Obligations (PSOs) to protect and enhance domestic connectivity.
This is also clearly set out in the Appraisal Report.</p><p> </p><p>Under expansion,
this modelling shows an initial increase of domestic flights followed by a steady
decline as routes are squeezed out by the same market forces that are squeezing out
marginal routes and flights today.</p><p> </p><p>This is why the Government has committed
to use this once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect slots for domestic routes
at Heathrow. The Government will consider domestic connectivity and how PSOs can be
used as part of the Green Paper on the Aviation Strategy which is due to be published
towards the end of this year.</p>
|
|
