THE Westcountry's biggest airline has called for Newquay and Exeter airports to be "priorities" in developing the region's transport links.

Flybe said the South West economy would "thrive" if improvements were made to accessing the two sites.

But in evidence to the Commons South West Select Committee, the firm failed to mention Plymouth airport, from which it operates no services.

Many in the industry see Exeter and Newquay as key to attracting more investment and tourists to the region.

Flybe included in its submission a table which showed that from 2002-03 to 2008-09, the number of flights at Exeter rose by 560 per cent and Newquay 140 per cent.

By comparison, Plymouth has seen a rise of only 86 per cent over the same period.

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"The prosperity of the region depends on business competitiveness and driving up improved productivity and having easy access to take produces to market; not just in terms of aviation but also in relation to surface transport," Flybe said.

"Good connectivity intra-regional, nationally and internationally is important to business, residents and tourists alike.

"We support the South West business community who have for many years advocated the need for two principle road and rail links; namely M4/5, and a fully 'dualled' A303, and rail links to both Paddington and Waterloo with improved journey times in particular to Waterloo."

The company added that "Newquay and Exeter have a distinctive role in serving their local catchment areas and that there is significant scope for development without major environmental impacts".

"Any development strategy should therefore concentrate on and prioritise those two airports," the submission said.

Last week the British Chamber of Commerce published a report which claimed a third runway at Heathrow airport could act as a gateway to the South West, boosting the region's economy by £160 million a year. The extra runway – which has been opposed by the Conservatives – could deliver about £5.4 billion in wider economic benefits over 60 years, the report said, adding that the benefits of fewer delays and more regular services would include higher levels of employment and create more international links which are key to economic growth.

Additional regular flights from airports such as Newquay, Exeter and Plymouth into a Heathrow "hub" would connect passengers to scores of international airlines.

But environmental campaigners accused the BCC of "rehashing old arguments and peddling voodoo economics" to revive the controversial third runway plan.

Anita Goldsmith, Greenpeace's senior transport campaigner, dismissed the report as "yet another PR stunt by the losing side" on the Heathrow third runway debate.