HC Deb 28 November 2002 vol 395 c455W
Mr. Liddell-Grainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action will be taken to open up routes to(a) Cardiff and (b) Bristol airports. [83387]

Mr. Jamieson

The Government encourages the use of regional airports. Community airlines are free to fly where they wish within the European Economic Area (EEA) under the "third package" of aviation liberalisation. In addition, since 1997 we have pursued a policy of offering foreign airlines from outside the EEA unrestricted frequencies to regional points in the UK on a reciprocal basis. It remains a commercial decision for airlines as to the services and frequencies that they offer.