Ryanair pulling all its flights out of City of Derry airport from next March
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has welcomed a £7m funding package for City of Derry Airport and has called for a long term commitment to air connectivity in the North West.
Mr Eastwood said that regional transport inequality continues to be a significant barrier to new investment.
The SDLP Leader is currently working on a private members’ bill which will address regional economic inequality.
He said: “City of Derry airport is a vital transport link for business in the North West.
“The £7 million funding package announced this week is a welcome development but it must be alongside a long term commitment to develop the airport and enhance the transport infrastructure throughout the North West.
“For too long, communities in the North West have suffered neglect and divestment because of the second class road, rail and air infrastructure.
“That must change urgently and requires a broad, cross departmental approach.
“The SDLP is preparing legislation to place a duty on government agencies to disseminate public resources across the North fairly and equally, with a particular focus on supporting those areas which have been deprived of development.
“We are committed to reengineering a fair and balanced economy and we’ll take action to realise that potential,” added the Foyle MLA.
Yesterday, the Department for Transport in London has reached an agreement in principle to provide funding for a flight between City of Derry Airport and London.
This would replace the current Ryanair route to London Stansted due which the budget airline is axing from from March 2017.
The funding would come under a government scheme known as a Public Service Obligation (PSO).
It would be the first UK-government backing for a PSO in Northern Ireland, the Department for Transport has said.
Derry City and Strabane District Council can now begin a tendering process to secure an airline.
