URGENT action is needed to protect and develop Northern Ireland’s air links to boost private sector growth, jobs and exports business leaders will claim today.
Amid growing concern over the pressure on existing air routes, a group of leading figures will call for government backing for a hub airport as a gateway to overseas markets.
The move comes with the publication today of research revealing the extent of the province’s dependence on aviation.
Up to £1 billion of Northern Ireland exports rely on air travel, while Heathrow directly supports 1,000 tourism jobs and 900 airport jobs in Northern Ireland, says Oxford Economics.
Capital expenditure at Heathrow brought in £13.3m for Northern Ireland suppliers in 2010, while visitors to Northern Ireland travelling via Heathrow contributed £21.4m to Northern Ireland’s GDP in 2010
In particular, the research underlines the importance of access to the UK’s only hub airport at Heathrow in connecting Northern Ireland businesses to a wide array of global destinations.
“Encouraging increased trade between UK firms and overseas markets is vital to the rebalancing of the UK economy,” said Ann McGregor, CEO of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce which is co-ordinating the issue.