Heathrow plays a crucial role in connecting Scotland to the world. As the UK’s largest port and only hub airport, we pool demand for global connections, enabling more flights to more destinations that other airports can’t support. But Heathrow is full. Without expansion, the UK risks losing its competitive edge and ability to link businesses, exports and people across Scotland to global growth.
Connecting Scotland to the world
At Heathrow, we are committed to helping every part of the country strengthen their links to new and expanding markets. Expansion would double cargo capacity at the airport and allow Scottish businesses to connect up to 40 new long-haul destinations. This would provide new trading opportunities in addition to new supply chain opportunities as we build Britain’s new runway.
It’s why expansion at Heathrow is backed by the Scottish Chamber of Commerce and more than thirty local Chambers. We will ensure that Scottish businesses continue to be heard as our plans develop, updating the Chambers at an annual event until the proposed new runway is operational.
With direct routes to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, Heathrow is the gateway for visitors to Scotland from every corner of the globe. Competition and rotations on all four routes are already growing, offering greater choice to passengers. To help boost tourism around the UK, we also created a themed gateroom for Scotland in Terminal 3 last year to encourage all who passed it to visit some of the nation’s most spectacular destinations.
Spreading the benefits of expansion
Expansion offers a world of opportunity for British business, including Scottish SMEs. As part of this, we will be hosting one of our Business Summits in Edinburgh in October this year. Organised in conjunction with Scottish business groups and the Scottish Government, the event is an opportunity for local businesses to cement relationships and create connections with some of the UK’s largest suppliers – including from Heathrow’s own supply chain.
Whilst ensuring we are delivering for businesses in Scotland and the rest of the country, we are also clear that we will meet our responsibilities to the environment: our airport infrastructure will be carbon neutral by 2020, zero carbon by 2050, and any growth that comes with expansion will be carbon neutral. Our Logistics Hubs are a great example of how this will work: these innovative off-site construction sites will help us build the new runway sustainably while giving businesses across the UK an opportunity to work with us.
One of the four UK-wide Hubs will be located in Scotland – contributing to the thousands of local jobs that would be created throughout the expansion project. Following a nationwide tour in 2018, we announced a shortlist of four potential sites to host Scotland’s Logistics Hub: Glasgow Prestwick Airport; Babcock Marine in Rosyth; Forth Ports; and Peter D Stirling in Mossend. All shortlisted sites were chosen based on strong local support, a thriving local supply chain, convenient connectivity links, and a skilled local workforce. The final choice will be announced early next year.
Scotland’s place in the world
Every day, Heathrow supports Scotland’s place as a strong trading nation. We are in a unique position to do this as the UK’s only hub airport – and with expansion, Heathrow would improve Scotland’s connections to markets everywhere. It would boost Scottish business and tourism, support economic growth, and create new jobs across the nation. Moreover, our plans would be delivered – including the growth in flights – in a way that is carbon neutral and compatible with UK climate targets.
We look forward to working with Scotland’s businesses to make sure that expansion continues to support you and your communities.
