In a letter to MP and minister of state department for transport Robert Goodwill, Brian Ambrose the chief executive of the Belfast airport, declared full backing for the campaign, highlighting the importance of mid to long-haul connectivity for passengers in Northern Ireland.

He said: “An expansion at Heathrow airport would bring huge benefits to Northern Ireland’s business and leisure sectors. 

“Last year, 132,000 passengers transferred through Heathrow from Belfast and we believe that this number would only increase with expansion at Heathrow, which is set to create 40 additional long-haul routes.

“Heathrow already serves 75 destinations which aren’t operated from any other UK airport and in order to continue growth within the local economy, maintaining this connectivity, particularly with international markets such as China, is key.

“The expansion would also serve to make Northern Ireland accessible to an increasing number of business and leisure passengers across the world, which would build further on the growth the region has already experienced to date.”

Belfast City Airport remains the only airport in Northern Ireland to serve the London Heathrow route which is operated up to ten times daily by both Aer Lingus and British Airways.