Welcome to AirportWatch
We are an umbrella movement uniting the national environmental organisations, the airport community groups, and individuals opposed to unsustainable aviation expansion
Scotland - Bill to cut carbon emissions 42% by 2020MSPs have put Scotland on course to go further than any industrialised nation in cutting greenhouse gas emissions after unanimously passing a Climate Change Bill that set targets for cuts at 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The Bill seeks to impose controls on international aviation and shipping emissions, and proposes the electrification of railways. The interim target set in the UK Bill is 34% by 2020. 25.6.2009 More ..... |
Slump in airline revenues cuts faresAirline passengers are benefiting from a slump in demand after the latest industry
data indicated that carriers are having to slash fares to fill their planes. Industry
revenues have registered their steepest decline since the recession began, according
to IATA, falling by an estimated 30% in May. Passenger numbers appear to have
reached a plateau, with a fall of 9%. Airlines flew with 5% fewer seats by reducing
flight schedules in May. 26.6.2009 More ..... |
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Global airline figures still show large declines for MayIATA announced international scheduled traffic results for May showing passenger
demand declining 9.3% compared to May 2008. International passenger load was
71.2%, down from 74.5% in May 2008. The 17.4% decline in international cargo
was a bit less than the 21.7% drop in April. There was a decline of 11.1% in
passenger demand in March. European low cost carriers grew by 2.1%, while network
carriers fell 9.4%. 26.6.2009 More ..... |
Aviation biofuels protest targets Virgin Atlantic |
9 activists from Plane Stupid and Action Against Agrofuels have been arrested
gate crashing Virgin Atlantic’s 25th birthday party at Heathrow airport, to highlight
plans to allow the aviation industry to continue to expand if it uses biofuels
instead of conventional aviation fuel. Activists dressed as stewardesses climbed
on the entrance of the building and others unfurled banners. Virgin has been an
outspoken supporter of biofuels as a "solution" to the steeply rising emissions
from aircraft. 24.6.2009 More ..... |
Stansted runway inquiry delayed - probably until after the electionA public inquiry into whether a 2nd runway should be built at Stansted was delayed
for a 2nd time, by the DCLG Secretary of State, John Dehham. He said, in a letter
to all parties, that it was not yet "feasible nor realistic" to draw up a timetable
for the probe - because the future ownership of the airport remains in question.
The inquiry had already been postponed once by his predecessor Hazel Blears, and
will not now take place till after the election.
Lord Hanningfield, leader of Essex County Council, which opposes the 2nd runway,
said: “This is another nail in the coffin for the Government’s ill-conceived plans
to force unsustainable and unneeded aviation expansion on the British people. A
public inquiry will now not take place until after the general election, and with
the Conservatives committed to opposing the 2nd runway this is effectively the
death-knell for BAA’s unwanted plans. The chances of a 2nd runway at Stansted
may be effectively over but we would ask the new minister to take the brave step
of admitting it.” 17.6.2009 More ..... |
Bristol Airport planning application launchedBristol Airport have submitted their long awaited planning application, to North
Somerset Council. Their plan is to grow to handle 10 million passengers a year.
The airport claims this will create more than 3,500 new jobs across the region.
And they say there are measures to mitigate the impact of the airport’s activity
on the local community and environment. The expansion includes expansion of the
terminal to double its floor area. (Details of the application and consultation
documents are now available). Deadline 7th August. 17.6.2009 More ..... | |
UK air passenger numbers slump as recession bites - CAA May figuresCAA figures for May show transatlantic travel is the biggest victim as the number
of people using British airports fell 13%, compared to May 2008. Transatlantic
passengers were down 15%. Domestic passengers were down 8.7%. The largest market,
from the UK to mainland Europe, fell by 7.3%, although it still accounts for more
than half of all air journeys in the UK thanks to the enduring strength of the
low-cost carriers Ryanair and easyJet. 17.6.2009 More ..... |
BAA noise action plan for Heathrow sets out no firm plans to reduce noise from aircraft |
In its Noise Action Plan for Heathrow, just published for a 16 week period of public consultation, BAA has been forced to acknowledge for the first time that over 700,000 people are affected by aircraft noise from the airport, more than twice the number it previously admitted to (300,000). The action plan is described as “deeply disappointing” by HACAN, because it sets out no firm plans to reduce noise from the airport. Defra has shirked its responsibilities. 16.6.2009 More ..... Stansted's plan has also been published. More ..... |
"Aircraft to run on aviation biofuel in 3-5 years "The aviation indudustry body, the Geneva-based Air Transport Action Group (ATAG)
says that within 3 - 5 years, the first drops of sustainable aviation biofuels
could be entering the tanks of aircraft. In order to inform industry employees
and members of the flying public about this "new age in flight", the group this
week launches a new publication, "The Beginner's Guide to Aviation Biofuels". (All sounds great till you consider the details). Also proposals by the Aviation Global Deal (AGD) group. 13.6.2009 More ..... |
BAA passenger numbers fall 7.3% in May compared to May 2008London airports are continuing to suffer falls in passenger numbers, but Heathrow
is showing some signs of stemming the rate of losses. BAA’s 7 UK airports handled
11.8m passengers in May, a 7.3% fall compared to May 2008. Passenger traffic at
the 3 London airports was down 7.4%. Heathrow was down 3.9%, Stansted down 18.5%
and Gatwick down 6.5%. Domestic traffic was down 10%. Edinburgh passengers were
up 1.4%. Cargo fell in May, by 18.2%. 11.6.2009 More ..... |
Passengers should pay global carbon tax, says BA chiefAirline passengers should pay a global tax on carbon and accept an increase in
the cost of flying for the sake of the environment, according to the chief executive
of BA. It is the first in to propose that all airline passengers should pay an
additional sum which would be likely to rise steadily over time, to be used to
combat tropical deforestation and help developing companies to adapt to climate
change. BA has joined forces with other key airlines to call for aviation emissions
to be included in a global deal on climate change in Copenhagen in December. 12.6.2009
More ..... |
Climate campaigners chain themselves to jet at London City airport |
Five Plane Stupid campaigners dressed in pin-stripe suits and bowler hats disrupted
private jet flights at City airport by chaining themselves to the wheel of the
business jet forming a human wheel clamp around one of the airport’s business
jet fleet at the west end of the runway. Plane Stupid said the protest was against
the "selfishness of private jet use". Small jets emit 5 - 10 times more CO2 per
passenger than commercial flights. 10.6.2009 More ..... | |
Levy on international air travel could fund climate change fightAt the 2nd week in the latest round of UK climate talks in Bonn, it was suggested
that Britain and other rich countries are asked to accept a compulsory levy on
international flight tickets and shipping fuel to raise billions of dollars to
help the world's poorest countries adapt to combat climate change. The aviation
levy could raise £6.25bn a year. Until rich countries made serious pledges, it
would be impossible to agree actions without knowing how they would be funded.
8.6.2009 More ..... |
Airport expansion opponents call for more high-speed trainsCampaigners against airport expansion have claimed high-speed rail links would reduce the number of flights in Scotland's main airports by a third. In its new report "Rail First", AirportWatch Scotland say many flights from Glasgow and Edinburgh, are short-haul and could be replaced with fast trains - reducing the need for those airports to expand. They say 60% of all flights serving Edinburgh and Glasgow are to other mainland destinations in the UK. 5.6.2009 More ..... |
IATA to raise 2009 airline industry loss forecastIATA has said losses from the world's airlines will be worse than forecast this year and will cause a knock-on effect on suppliers, with Boeing and Airbus orders next year looking to be down 30%. IATA would revise its forecast of $4.7 billion losses at its annual meeting on 8th, "because the numbers we have seen in passengers and in freight are not showing any improvement," and "it would take 3-4 years before revenues recovered to pre-crisis levels." 4.6.2009 More ..... |
Government's carbon offsetting plans exposed as con by Friends of the EarthFoE have released a report about why offsetting is failing, and is both ineffective
and damaging. Dangerous climate change will be unavoidable if the UK, EU and USA
succeed in increasing the use of offsetting. The report shows offsetting is failing
to reduce, and in some cases is even increasing, carbon emissions. Offsetting
reduces pressure on rich countries to develop sustainable technologies and provides
an excuse for politicians to give the go-ahead to carbon intensive projects such
as runways. The Government is actively promoting the increased use of offsetting
at the UN climate talks. 2.6.2009 More ..... | ||
Sipson is the new Chelsea - Flower Show plants moved to Heathrow
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Residents and activists teamed up on Bank Holiday Monday to transplant hundreds
of plants from this year’s Chelsea Flower show, under the expert eyes of a top
Chelsea garden designer, and guerrilla gardeners. By the end of the day, Sipson,
Harmondsworth and Harlington were all blooming, More - Greenpeace ..... | |
Aviation now contributes 4.9% of climate change worldwideWork by the IPCC now estimates that aviation accounted for 4.9% of man-made climate impacts in 2005. This contrasts with the 2% figure that is constantly quoted by aviation lobbyists, and 3% which the same authors quoted two years ago. They have now revised their estimates with 2 important changes: including for the first time estimates of cirrus cloud formation and allowing for aviation growth between 2000 and 2005. The effect of these is to increase aviation’s impacts to 3.5% without cirrus and 4.9% including cirrus. 23.5.2009 More ... | ||
Heathrow third runway a mistake, says Lord SternThe decision to allow a 3rd runway at Heathrow was a mistake, according to Lord
Stern - one of the government's most senior advisers on the economics of climate
change. He said if the decision had been properly considered in light of the UK's
climate targets, he thought it would not have been granted and we cannot have
an ambitious carbon policy and then take a decision like that on Heathrow, without
a much tighter relationship with that policy. 23.5.2009 More ..... and | ||
BA makes record loss of £401 million in 'toughest-ever year'British Airways has reported a record loss of £401 million as high oil prices
and falling passenger numbers took their toll. The dramatic pre-tax loss for the
year to March 31 follows a record £922 million profit last year. Walsh said there
was no prospect of an immediate improvement. BA is cutting its capacity by 4%
next winter and is offering staff unpaid leave and part-time employment to cut
its wage bill. Its debt has risen to £2.4 billion. 22.5.2009 More ..... | ||
Activists from Heathrow and 5 other European airports in 'Euroflashmob'Flash mob protesters descended on Heathrow to sing against airport expansion
in a Eurovision-themed demonstration. On the day of the Eurovision song contest,
activists gathered at Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin and Paris. Emphasising
the plight of the villagers of Sipson, protesters performed old Eurovision favourites,
with suitably adapted words. Photos of all 6 flashmobs on Flickr. |
 16.5.2009 More ... | |
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25.5.2009 
Join us!
We don't have a subscription-based membership, but we are building up a network
of individuals and groups interested in the environmental aspects of aviation,
whether local noise and disturbance, or more nationally on climate change or equity.
If you share our concern about aviation or airport expansion, we would love to
hear from you.
JOIN US !
We don't have a subscription-based membership, but we are building up a network of individuals and groups interested in the environmental aspects of aviation, whether local noise and disturbance, or more nationally on climate change or equity. If you share our concern about aviation or airport expansion, we would love to hear from you.
JOIN US !
Emissions from aviation and climate change
Should we really give up flying?
Should I fly less?
Aviation and damage to the environment
Flying and climate change
Air travel and global warming
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