A NEW runway at Heathrow Airport will bring bigger economic benefits to the North-East than expansion at Gatwick, said the government’s independent airports commission, who warned either scheme will cost billions more than previously estimated.

Newcastle Airport bosses are firmly behind plans to expand Heathrow, while Stewart Wingate, Gatwick's Bishop Auckland-born chief executive, said a second world class airport would be good for Britain.

PWC analysis for the Airports Commission said Heathrow expansion could deliver up to £114bn of economic benefits to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions, while development of Gatwick would have less impact.

The rest of the UK would receive more than twice as much economic benefit by expanding Heathrow as by expanding Gatwick, said the Commission’s analysis, which also showed Heathrow will deliver more new jobs.

The commission has been tasked with weighing up where a new runway should be built to meet rising capacity demand.

It said expanding Heathrow would deliver 130,000 more jobs than would be created by a new runway at Gatwick, including 70,000 more jobs in manufacturing.

The news was welcomed by bosses at Newcastle International Airport who are firmly behind plans to grow Heathrow – already a

vital hub for the North-East.

Graeme Mason, planning and corporate affair director at Newcastle International, said: “We have been strongly supportive of expanding Heathrow throughout this process, as we know that this option would deliver the greatest benefit to the North-East.

“It is no surprise, therefore, to see that the Commission has concluded that the benefits to regions outside of London and the South East are over twice as great for a runway at Heathrow than for one at Gatwick.

“It is crucial that everyone in the North-East now tells the Commission that they support Heathrow,” added Mr Mason.

British Airways’ flights to Heathrow carry close to half a million passengers a year from Newcastle, making it the region’s busiest service. Half of the passengers using the service connect to another European or worldwide destination.

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: "The commission has confirmed that only Heathrow can connect all of Britain to global growth, delivering over £200bn to the British economy and 180,000 jobs while reducing noise for local residents compared to today.

"This shows that Heathrow's proposal is deliverable and is the only way to keep Britain at the heart of the global economy. Now it's time for all those who want a better future for Britain to make their voice heard and back Heathrow."

Mr Wingate, however, believed the report fuelled the case for a second runway at his airport.

He said: "It can give the country two world-class airports.

"The UK gets the economic benefit it needs at a fraction of the environmental impact of Heathrow today. It would mean competition and lower fares for passengers. We have a financing plan and a construction project that can be delivered without huge risk to the public purse.

"After decades of indecision, the UK needs something to happen. As the commission underlines, Gatwick can actually be delivered by 2025 (whereas Heathrow's third

runway might not be finished until 2029).

"We have a safeguarded site with little risk and no complex construction across major motorways. Our new runway can be funded without a penny of taxpayers' money at a time when there are a lot of other competing priorities for public funds."

The commission will give its final recommendation to the government next summer.