THE North-East will benefit from new domestic flights in an expansion at Heathrow Airport, it has been claimed.

Officials at the London site have unveiled proposals to create up to 21 daily services, which they say would boost connections to Newcastle Airport.

They added the plans, which could see an additional 25,000 flights from 2021, would begin as Heathrow builds a third runway and give North-East exporters greater scope to deliver goods.

Heathrow has the backing of the Government-appointed Davies Commission to build another runway after officials snubbed Gatwick.

However, ministers, who have deferred any final ruling to address environmental concerns, and are not expected to make a decision until next month at the earliest.

Around 500,000 passengers use services to access Heathrow every year from Newcastle, and officials previously said the London airport’s expansion could create 5,000 jobs and deliver £4bn to the North-East’s economy.

Graeme Mason, Newcastle Airport’s planning and corporate affairs director, welcomed the new proposals.

He said: “Newcastle is the international gateway for the North-East and expansion at Heathrow will help safeguard a quality link.”

However, Heathrow’s plans have long been criticised by Gatwick Airport’s Bishop Auckland-born Stewart Wingate.

Mr Wingate, who formerly worked at Spennymoor’s Black and Decker, has long argued his site’s proposals for a second runway would strengthen the region’s trade links, increase international connections and be cheaper to build.