MEP Fights for Stansted - Brussels Airlinks

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 2nd May 2000

Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat MEP for Eastern England, is campaigning to restore scheduled flights from Stansted to Brussels. Regular Stansted-Brussels flights are to be axed this week when Virgin Express cancels its service.

Mr. Duff says that:

"Any claim we might have to becoming a competitive European region is made incredible by the lack of a regular service to and from the European capital.

"This is a big blow to both business and politics in Eastern England. There have been scheduled services on the Stansted-Brussels route for over twenty years.

"Unfortunately, despite the withdrawal of the KLM service last year, Virgin has mismanaged the service and has failed to market it properly. Their aircraft were too big and their service too infrequent and unreliable.

"I am talking with the British Airports Authority at Stansted and Brussels National at Zaventem about attracting another airline to use the existing slots. I am urging that this is regarded as a top priority by both airports.

"Stansted must stop thinking of itself merely as London's third airport, but should develop itself as a major strategic asset for the East of England.

"I shall also be raising the issue with the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) whom I shall be meeting in Brussels this week.

"Of course, it is a great personal inconvenience, as I use the service at least twice a week. But the service is popular with business people, farmers, lobbyists, academics, civil servants as well as politicians. The cancellation of the service means that we will all have to travel to either London City or Heathrow in both cases adding another two hours to the journey."