A new report has been published outlining the potential economic benefits of a new airport in the south-east of the UK.

According to the study, which has been drawn up by York Aviation and Oxford Economics, a new four runway hub airport would provide a £2.1 billion boost and over 17,500 new jobs across the UK.

In particular, the report highlights the regional benefits such a project would provide. The number of domestic routes into Heathrow has fallen significantly in the past 20 years and a new hub would restore these connections, resulting in 49 more regional flights every day than a third runway at Heathrow would provide.

The report argues that the number of domestic routes would decline even further if a new runway was constructed at Heathrow. 

Louise Congdon, managing partner at York Aviation, said: "A new four-runway hub airport would provide the nation and regions with the best connectivity to the UK’s main international airport."