LOCAL business leaders are urging the Government not to have its head in the clouds over the future of air travel.

Bolton and Bury Chamber has joined together with its British Chamber colleagues, air users, the travel industry and trade unions to launch Freedom To Fly.

This campaign demands that the Government avoids a repeat of its mistakes with the rail industry and plans ahead for an aviation sector that is expected to double in the next 20 years.

In a MORI poll commissioned by the campaign, the majority of the British public support the case for more capacity to be made available at UK airports to maintain the freedom to fly and sustain the economy, with proper care for the environment.

The cross sector coalition, which follows a Government announcement that it will look 30 years ahead in its forthcoming Aviation White Paper, argues that without more capacity at UK airports, the result will be more delays, higher prices and less choice for the public, with dire consequences to Britain competitiveness. The launch of Freedom to Fly has been welcomed by Andrew Dickson, president of Bolton and Bury Chamber who is also chairman of ABTA in the North West and a main board director, He said: "We are pleased to lend our support to the campaign.

"Aviation and the jobs it creates plays an important role in the economy and social fabric of our towns."

He added: "High quality air transport links are vital in attracting inward investment and tourism to the UK.

"Successful airports like Manchester and Liverpool are wealth generators in their own right, making an important and growing contribution to regional economies."