NORTH-EAST airport bosses have backed fresh plans to extend Heathrow and give the region and its businesses a gateway to international markets.

Heathrow Airport has unveiled a raft of regional commitments for Newcastle Airport, providing its growth plans are approved.

The aims include a review of airport charges and creating more frequent and improved flights between the destinations.

Nearly 500,000 passengers use services to access Heathrow every year from Newcastle, and officials say the London airport’s expansion will deliver £4bn to the North-East’s economy and create more than 5,000 jobs.

Heathrow’s plans come as the Government-appointed Airports Commission prepares to make its recommendations on UK aviation’s future, with Heathrow pushing for a third runway and West Sussex-based Gatwick a second.

Last night, Graeme Mason, Newcastle Airport’s planning and corporate affairs director, told The Northern Echo the proposals were good news for the region.

He said: “Heathrow is a crucial hub for both Newcastle Airport and the rest of the North-East.

“There are not short of 500,000 passengers using up to seven services a day to connect to Heathrow and beyond from here.

“A large percentage of them are going on to use other services to go around the world.

“It is very important for us and why we strongly support its third runway plans.

“The charges have also been a topic we have focused on for some time, and if the fees are reduced it will be a real boost.”

Heathrow’s proposals also include a £10m development fund to provide support for new links to airports not connected to Heathrow, by providing backing to deliver up to five new routes for three years.

John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow’s chief executive, said its growth would be good for the region.

He added: “We’re ready to help connect businesses across the North-East to global growth.

“We have been listening to businesses, politicians and now to the NCTF, and today’s announcement shows we have a plan to deliver what Britain needs.

“Only Heathrow can connect all of Britain to global growth.

“That’s why we are best for Britain and backed by Britain.

“Let’s get on with it. “

Mr Holland-Kaye revealed the airport will review airport charges on domestic routes, and will also partner airports, local economic partnerships, chambers of commerce and national and regional Governments to improve existing routes.

He added it would look at starting the Route Development Fund after its potential expansion.

However, its claims have been strongly refuted by Stewart Wingate, Gatwick’s Bishop Auckland-born chief executive.

Mr Wingate, a former apprentice at South West Durham Training, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, said a broader view needed to be taken on the matter.

The ex-Spennymoor Black and Decker worker told The Northern Echo the Airports Commission must back Gatwick because it will be cheaper and in operation much quicker.

He said: “This is a really important choice for this region and the UK as a whole.

“People in the North-East need connectivity and we have the deliverable solution.

“We are a better alternative and are not looking for a penny of taxpayers’ money; we can fully privately finance it.

“We can also do it at least five years faster; it could be delivered by 2025.

“It will provide 120,000 jobs, bring £100m of economic benefits, create true competition for Heathrow and reduce the monopoly.

“From a North-East perspective, you have to back the right horse, and the right horse is one that will bring increased connectivity.”

Heathrow’s new proposals follow an announcement last week by The National Connectivity Task Force (NCTF), which said a third runway at the airport would bring wider regional benefits than expansion at Gatwick, and help retain the North-East’s positive trade balance.

The NCTF also added expansion at Heathrow could see the region’s second airport, Durham Tees Valley (DTVA), receive slots in an international hub.

If those proposals came to fruition, it would represent a welcome boost for DTVA, which saw its daily service to Heathrow end in 2009.

It has also seen passenger numbers drop from nearly one million in 2006 to about 140,000, with its focus now on daily flights to Aberdeen and Amsterdam.

Peter Nears, DTVA’s strategic planning director, said: “Whichever option is chosen for expansion in the South-East, it is important that provision is made for slots to provide services from regional airports.

“It is in the national interest that provision of expansion capacity benefits the whole of the country.”