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A spokesperson for the Airport Operators Association (AOA) has underlined the importance of regional air routes in the UK and advised that they should be promoted and protected.

The comments come after a Competition Commission report on Heathrow and Gatwick which suggested that airport taxes should be increased.

This would land airlines with higher costs and there are fears that this could lead to knock-on expenses for customers or cuts in services.

Chris Goater of the AOA said that if any cuts were made in regional networks it could have a detrimental effect for travellers as well as the industry, as has been seen in the past.

'We are very keen to encourage, protect and increase the number of regional services in to Heathrow because we are seeing a reduction in those regional links. They are very important,' he said.

'Places like Liverpool have lost their Heathrow link in the past and they are keen to get it back because it's good for the businesses and the people in the city centre.'

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