LONDON mayor Boris Johnson has weighed into debate over plans for a third runway for Heathrow - claiming Belfast could lose flights to the hub airport if it goes ahead.
The number of UK cities served by Heathrow has plummeted over the past quarter of century - now with just seven routes.
The Conservative mayor has written to business leaders across Britain and the north warning that Heathrow may cut yet more services - and Belfast may be for the chop.
Aer Lingus and British Airways currently fly to Heathrow from Belfast City Airport.
Mr Johnson said: "Having connections with the UK hub airport is hugely important for Northern Ireland. Those connections allow businesses to trade and secure investment across the globe. But the truth is that Heathrow has been failing our regions for well over a quarter of a century and quite staggeringly the Airports Commission's own analysis shows that the construction of a third runway only worsens the situation.
“That is not how you rebalance the economy and spread prosperity across the UK. The only long-term solution that would enable British businesses to compete on a level playing field with our European competitors is to build a four-runway hub airport, and the only logical location for that airport is to the east of London.”
Those in favour of the third runway claim the north would be in line for a £4 billion boost if it was built.
Heathrow Airport said 5,000 jobs could be created in Northern Ireland as part of the knock-on affect of expansion.
