LIVERPOOL John Lennon Airport wants to re-establish a link with London Heathrow.
It accepts it is unlikely in the current downturn, but the plan remains a long-term aim after the airport’s daily service to London City was axed by VLM last year, said spokesman Robin Tudor.
He revealed their plans after a delegation of northern MPs lobbied aviation minister Jim Fitzpatrick yesterday, on behalf of regional airports in their constituencies.
It followed the end of established Heathrow links with Durham Tees Valley, owned by JLA parent Peel Holdings, and Leeds Bradford.
MPs and airport owners are concerned that further cuts could damage their recession-hit economies even more.
Mr Tudor said Peel was involved through Durham Tees Valley, but revealed: “In terms of Liverpool, we are still looking at London as a destination, but not so much London City.
“London, from Liverpool’s perspective, is still very much Heathrow.”
He believes that the Competition Commission’s call for the break-up of the British Airports Authority, involving a sell-off of London Gatwick and London Stansted, would result in more competition at Heathrow, which could open the door to routes for Liverpool.
That would allow leisure and business passengers from Liverpool to feed into a massive range of international destinations, despite the start this weekend of KLM’s thrice-daily link with Amsterdam and 650 international routes.
