HEATHROW Airport has vowed to employ hundreds at a brand new supply chain hub in Scotland if it gets the go ahead to build a third runway.
The depot would be an assembly base supplying materials for the airport's expansion, which will be Europe's largest private infrastructure project is approved by the UK Government.
Details of the plan come after the shock Brexit vote raised questions about whether the much-delayed decision on airport expansion would be kicked into the long grass yet again after Prime Minister David Cameron - who had been expected to make a statement on the issue in July - announced he was stepping down.
At least two of his potential successors - Boris Johnson and Theresa May - are hostile to a proposed third runway at Heathrow, the option recommended last year by the Airports Commission.
However, there are also fears that Mr Cameron's status as a "lame duck" PM undermines his ability to take the controversial decision.
The pledge to build a supply chain hub in Scotland was announced alongside six guarantees designed to bolster Scotland's economy, including delivering the connectivity Scotland needs once new capacity becomes available.
This includes working with easyJet to start new flights to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness, and working with Scottish Government to help get Dundee connected to Heathrow for the first time as part of £10 million committed to support new domestic routes.
Heathrow chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said: “In a time of economic uncertainty, the guarantees we’ve set out today represent our commitment to making Heathrow expansion deliver a stronger Scotland.
"Scotland’s airports are going from strength to strength and Heathrow complements that success – where a direct flight from Scotland isn’t available, Heathrow fills the gaps to reach the new and prosperous markets Scotland needs."
An independent study, commissioned by Heathrow, estimated that a third runway at Heathrow would help create 16,000 new Scottish jobs and £14 billion in growth for the Scottish economy.
A majority of Scottish business leaders have also backed Heathrow expansion, over a rival bid from Gatwick to build a second runway.
Stuart Patrick, chief executive of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce welcomed the plans, adding: "We will continue to make the case for the expansion of Heathrow and for a quick decision.”
Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said: "This is not the time to be continually delaying large scale investment opportunities and we urge the UK Government to make an early and final decision on expanding UK’s airport capacity.”
UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said yesterday that ministers "remain committed to expansion" despite the result of the EU referendum.
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