Air Routes: Public Service Obligations
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2026 to Question 6200 on Air Routes: Public Service Obligations, whether her Department has assessed the potential merits of Public Service Obligation support for domestic air routes connecting Northern Ireland with regional airports in England outside London, including Birmingham Airport.
Answered by Keir Mather
No assessments have been made on public service obligation (PSO) routes between Northern Ireland and regional airports as no proposals have been received. The Department for Transport will consider in accordance with its guidance on PSOs any such proposals in future. These services can be supported where a clear public interest case can be made and where no viable commercial alternative exists. This guidance is available here:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6571a404746930000d488999/dft-public-service-obligati…
I note that Birmingham Airport has flights to both Belfast City and Belfast International airports and that a twice weekly service to Derry/Londonderry commenced in September 2025.
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