THE new coalition government has strengthened the case for regional airports like Southend by scrapping plans for new runways at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, MD Alastair Welch says.

The Government has cancelled plans for Heathrow and has said it will also refuse extra runways at both Gatwick and Stansted.

Airport managing director Alastair Welch said: “The Government announcement doesn’t come as a surprise given previous commitments given by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties in terms of their proposals for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports.

“One of the reasons why Southend is attractive to aircraft operators is the congestion-free airspace which exists to the east of London. It does reinforce the case for regional airports such as Southend.”

Under the development plans, Southend airport will see an extended runway open in time for the 2012 Olympics, plus a new control tower and multi-million pound railway station on the London Liverpool Street line.

Mr Welch added: “Within 20 minutes drive of the airport, people make more than one million journeys to Europe by air each year.

“The airport has good rail links into London which will allow passengers a very smooth and easy journey into the city, which will compare very favourably with the experience they might get elsewhere.”