Mr Joyce said the difference between those airports and London Oxford, was the latter had no direct transport links to the capital.

BBC: 'London' airport name change row

But even further from the capital than the Oxford airport, and with no direct transport links, is London Ashford Airport at Lydd in Kent.

BBC: 'London' airport name change row

"Direct transport links are something people on both sides of the strait want, and the earlier the better, " says K.W. Nieh, an EVA Airways senior vice president.

CNN: Deal-Making Time

Just 7% of the mayor's revenues come from direct taxation, with transport fares supplying a further chunk.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot

Virgin Trains has applied to Network Rail and the Department of Transport to run two direct trains a day from Shrewsbury to London Euston.

BBC: Shropshire to London trains: New service planned

Whereas the London mayor will oversee services, such as the police and public transport, which currently lack any direct accountability, the elected mayors proposed for other cities would take over councils' existing powers, such as the running of schools and social services.

ECONOMIST: Local government

Supplies are piling up at the airport in Bhuj, the district capital, where there are too few lorries to transport them and too little information to direct them to where they are most needed.

ECONOMIST: The sorrow of India

Speaking in the Commons, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said Virgin could run a direct link to the capital from December 2013.

BBC: Shropshire to London direct rail link 'to boost business'

Britain has already experienced much of the direct uplift from hosting the games, with infrastructure spending on stadiums and new transport schemes, for example.

ECONOMIST: The economic impact of the games