FIVE of the major international airlines say they would not consider operating out of a Severnside airport.

Plans for the £2 billion international airport were formally submitted to the government yesterday.

But one Gwent MP contacted major airlines for their views and discovered most were not in favour. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada, Continental and Qantas replied to a letter from Monmouth MP Huw Edwards that asked whether they would fly to Severnside.

Continental Airlines mirrored the stance of all the companies by stating: "We have no current interest in Severnside."

The airlines say it is not viable for their planes to use the £2bn scheme that will create 13,000 jobs and based on a site south of Llanwern steelworks.

All plan to continue focusing their efforts on Heathrow, with Qantas and BA saying they would prefer an extra runway there to the Severnside scheme.

Mr Edwards said: "I've been totally opposed to it since 1991 and the majority in the south of my constituency are against it.

"They have expressed great concern about the environmental impact, noise and access issues.

"These replies demonstrate that there's no interest in developing a Severnside airport as an alternative to developing Heathrow or Gatwick."

Michael Stephen, chairman of backers Severnside International Airport Ltd, said: "These letters mean nothing at all. We have been in touch with the airlines. The replies we have had from them say that it's too early for them to say what they would do.

"I would be very surprised if any of them can take a definite position on it at this stage. "The airport would bring very large economic benefits to the region. And Severnside comes out top in the criteria the Government have laid down."

The Severnside airport backers say it would: * Help create up to 13,000 jobs * Be an intercontinental airport for southern and western England and South Wales * Mean huge savings on aviation fuel * Avoid environmental and noise problems by building runways on a manmade island built at sea.

The government is set to review a white paper on the proposed plans in the autumn.