UK industry body Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC) has made its submission to the Howard Davies-led Airports Commission on domestic air connectivity between London and the UK regions.
Calling for a greater connectivity between the UK regions and the Heathrow hub, the organisation has cited its own survey work, which revealed that air travel investment from the north of England is low as business travellers prefer foreign hubs over Heathrow due to poor connectivity.
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According to GTMC, Heathrow and its route network to traditional business destinations should be to the advantage of the UK’s business community.
Tasked to evaluate the need for additional UK airport capacity, the commission had previously sought viewpoints from private and public sectors in a consultation process before publishing its findings in 2015.
GTMC is sharing its survey data with other policymakers in the country, aiming at encouraging expansion at key UK international airports to improve capacity and ensure that the UK maintains its position as a leading country to do business.
In its submission, the organisation highlighted various factors influencing business travel demand for domestic air connectivity between London and other regions in the UK, such as regional economies, schedules, networks, competitors and rail impact.
