Leuchars is a “logical” place for a commercial airport and any such development could ultimately save the taxpayers millions of pounds, it has been claimed.
Senior political and industry figures spoke out at the weekend amid continued questions over the viability of scheduled air services from Dundee.
North East Fife MSP Roderick Campbell said not to make proper use of the airbase’s extensive runway after the RAF leave would be “a horrendous waste of excellent resources”.
Meanwhile, former Perth Airport director Mike McWilliam said Leuchars was “a logical choice” for a commercial airport for Tayside and North Fife, to avoid wasting millions of public funds continuing to subsidise Dundee Airport.
They were speaking after the first week of the interim Flybe-Loganair service from Dundee to London Stansted which appeared to receive a lukewarm response from the travelling public.
Only 14 seats of the 31 seats were taken on the Monday morning flight south the main service of the week for business passengers to the capital and only seven customers were on board to come home that evening.
Flybe would not reveal passenger numbers for other flights last week for reasons of commercial sensitivity, but they were understood to be low.
The Stansted service is receiving a £400,000 subsidy from Dundee City Council and Transport Scotland and will be replaced this summer by a new service supported by a Westminster Government subsidy.
Pouring taxpayers money into maintaining scheduled services at Dundee, where only smaller passenger aircraft can operate, has been criticised by the chief executive of Edinburgh Airport.
Gordon Dewar thinks the money would be better spent improving road and rail links from Dundee to his airport. But Mr Campbell argues the case for Leuchars.
“There will be significantly fewer military aircraft after the summer when the RAF move to Lossiemouth, and I see no reason why consideration should not be given to opening up commercial flight paths,” he said.
“Not to make proper use of Leuchars’ runway would be a horrendous waste of excellent resources.
“It is clearly capable of hosting large aircraft which could provide a significant boon to the local economy and increase tourism to north-east Fife, generally.
Mr McWilliam said: “Using Leuchars would mean a second runway at Edinburgh costing £1 billion would not be necessary. It could also attract air freight that uses Prestwick and would boost tourism in Dundee.”
Dundee city development convener Will Dawson said: “The working group set up to examine the future of Dundee Airport are looking at all options including possible commercial flights at Leuchars.
“There are issues to do with Dundee and there are issues to do with Leuchars. We have to wait and see what the working group of the city council, Transport Scotland and other partners come up with.”
He added that the Stansted service is in its infancy and it can take time for customer levels to grow in scheduled air routes.