Thank you for contacting me about Flybe.
Regional air carriers and airports play a vital role in providing connectivity for communities, regions and nations across the United Kingdom. Flybe is Europe’s largest regional carrier and flies many important regional routes within the UK. As you may be aware, maintaining South West regional connectivity is very important for our region in particular, not least for jobs and transport at this time.
More generally, the Government is committed to levelling up all regions of the UK and this includes supporting regional connectivity. Indeed, Ministers want to ensure that all corners of the country drive the economy, and fully benefit from prosperity in years to come.
I understand that the Department for Transport will undertake a review of regional connectivity to make sure that communities across the country have the domestic transport connections that they need, including regional services from local airports. The Department will work alongside the regions, devolved nations and the aviation industry to identify how central Government can support connectivity. I am also extremely keen to promote more green focused transport such as rail and bus services locally.
I hope that you will consider responding to the Local Transport Plan Review consultation from Gloucestershire County Council. You can find more information about this here:
In addition, prior to the March Budget, the Treasury will conduct a review of Air Passenger Duty to make sure that regional connectivity is supported, while at the same time ensuring it meets the UK’s climate change commitments to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
I am confident that these reviews will be of benefit to passengers and communities in Stroud, the regions and nations, as well as industry, across the UK.