Originally Posted by
Wycombe
Agreed, but one suspects that any announcement today will be well embedded (but not entirely buried) as part of "a package of measures we are taking to improve regional connectivity".
There are a lot of measures that could be employed to boost regional connectivity, like the reduction/removal/rebate of APD for UK domestic flights, that might require a bit of imagination to get past state aid rules, but should be possible. Giving all airlines, rather than a financial basket-case an APD reduction/removal/rebate seems like a better way to encourage connectivity between the regions and direct links from the regions to neighbouring countries. The question is what does regional connectivity really mean? Connecting the regions to each other while avoiding London, or connecting the country via London? Given the chronic lack of investment for CrossCountry over the past decade, or more, I wonder if the latter is more important for Whitehall?