Heathrow to cut passenger charges to support domestic flights

Heathrow airport said it will cut charges by a third for passengers on domestic flights, in an attempt to bolster its case for expansion by showing support for connecting Britain's regions.

It proposes that from the start of next year the charge will fall from £29.59 to £19.59 per passenger. The plan from the west London airport, which is lobbying for permission to build a third runway, is an attempt to deflect criticism that it does not adequately cater for domestic routes.

Regional flights have been squeezed out as capacity at Heathrow has filled up - in 1990 it served 18 domestic routes but that has dropped to just seven.

The suggested reduction in charges follows the airport's announcement this month that it would set aside £10m to support five new regional routes over the next three years.

"This is a final throw of the dice to convince the [airports] commission that they offer the best opportunity for the regions," said David Bentley, chief airports analyst at the Capa Centre for Aviation.

The cut in charges could help sustain regional routes, he added: "A reduction of this amount could convince the UK's dwindling band of domestic airlines of the viability of such routes."

Heathrow also said it would almost double its charges to airlines for nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide emissions in an attempt to encourage airlines to use newer, quieter and greener aircraft. The airport said that would offset any reduction in its revenue from a cut in passenger charges.

Heathrow is consulting airlines, which will need to approve its plan. The three biggest providers of regional flights are Aer Lingus, British Airways and Virgin's Little Red.

British Airways said it would consider the proposals, adding: "We, not Heathrow, have invested billions of pounds in cleaner, quieter aircraft. Heathrow remains the most expensive airport in the world."

Gatwick airport, which has made its case for a second runway to the airports commission, said it offered better domestic connectivity with flights to 12 UK destinations. "Gatwick has the best regional links of any London airport and still remains significantly cheaper than Heathrow," it said. "We will be setting out our own proposals on how to improve them further later this month."

The independent airports commission has shortlisted three options for flight expansion: a third runway at Heathrow, a second runway at Gatwick, and the extension of one runway at Heathrow. It is due to report its final conclusions after the general election in May.

Some 5.3m passengers passing through Heathrow each year are taking domestic flights, to Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Newcastle and Belfast.

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