An increase in the UK's aviation expansion should include a new airport in the north of England, the TUC has said.

The new development - recommended for the former RAF camp at Finningley near Doncaster - could handle five million passengers by 2030, the union body argues.

In its response to the government's consultation paper on the issue, the TUC also endorses the development of three new runways in the south east, one in the midlands and one at either Edinburgh or Glasgow airports.

"Doing nothing is not an option. The demand for air travel continues to spiral. If the UK is unable to increase its capacity, airlines will simply take their business elsewhere," said general secretary John Monks.

"We cannot sit back and let the European airport hubs scoop up all our flights, and the money and jobs that will follow all the extra passengers."

The TUC estimates that by 2030 around 260,000 new jobs could be created by increased air travel.

"Too many jobs have been lost in the UK in recent years - the opportunity to create almost 260,000 new ones is an opportunity too good to miss," added Monks.

The general secretary's comments come as the High Court is expected to rule on a challenge to the consultation process from Medway and Kent Councils.

The councils have attacked the omission of Gatwick airport from the consultation process, but ministers have argued that they are bound by an agreement preventing expansion until 2019.