A major airline’s been telling a special commission it would operate flights from the Isle of Man to Britain’s busiest hub – if a new runway’s built there.
easyJet says it would fly between Ronaldsway and Heathrow if the UK government decides to go ahead with plans to build the extension to the London airport.
This week, the company has given evidence to the Airports Commission chaired by economist Sir Howard Davies.
He’ll report back to the Department for Transport after the UK’s general election about whether Gatwick or Heathrow should get extra capacity.
easyJet has never flown from Heathrow and the Island lost its links to the airport in 2002 when Manx Airlines was bought out by British Airways.
A route to Heathrow - Europe’s busiest airport - has been a hot topic of debate ever since, and easyJet says in its submission it would base 30 aircraft there if the expansion plans go ahead.
The airline says it would run up to 200 flights to 70 destinations, including seven in Britain - Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Jersey and the Isle of Man.
Carolyn McCall, easyJet’s chief executive, dismissed plans for Gatwick, saying travellers would much rather use Heathrow.
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