Regional Airports, Airlines Encouraged To Pitch For Up To $85 Million Over Three Years

Airports and airlines in the U.K. are being urged by that country's Department for Transport to bid for government funding of up to £17.5 million (approx $26.6 million) in the next year to help launch new routes.

This ‘start up aid’ will be made available from the Regional Air Connectivity Fund, which was announced by the government in June 2013 and is open to airports with fewer than 5 million passengers per year. This fund has already been partly distributed to support strategic routes to London from Newquay and Dundee but is now being extended to bids for more routes.

The £56 million is available to cover 3 years of financial support for start-up aid, with £17.5 million being made available to bids in 2015/16 and around £20 million (approx. $30.4 million) a year for each of the remaining years. The aid will create new routes, boosting connectivity, increasing trade and supporting jobs in the regions.

"Smaller airports are vital to local economies and ensuring they thrive is a key part of our long term economic plan," said Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill. "I want to encourage the industry to apply to expand their routes, to generate UK growth and jobs, as well as boosting our trade links with countries all over the world."

"I created the Regional Air Connectivity Fund because, as a Highlander, I appreciate the immense value of regional air routes to people living in remote communities across the UK,." said Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander. "This fund has already supported valuable services like Newquay’s London route, which has a return of 2.5 for every pound invested, making it great value for taxpayers too. I hope this further funding will help other areas sustain economically important connections too.

To apply for the funding, airports and airlines will have to provide evidence to show their proposed route will generate local benefits and represents value for money.

FMI: Guidance for Airports