Welcome to AirportWatch

We are an umbrella movement uniting the national environmental organisations, airport community groups, and individuals opposed to unsustainable aviation expansion, and its damaging environmental effects, including climate change.

For updates on recent news items, see Latest News

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Airlines ‘are conforming’ with EU rules on emissions

May 15, 2012     The figures suggest opposition to the EU airline charge is melting away, except in India and China. The EC says the vast majority of airlines have conformed with EU rules on reporting CO2 emissions. The EU required airlines to report by March 2012 on 2011 emissions as a “dry run”; all did, bar 10 from China and India. The EU has asked the 10 airlines that have not yet submitted figures to do so by mid June. Failure to comply would mean an airline would pay a penalty of €100 / tonne of CO2 emitted, and a ban from EU airspace if they refuse to pay. In March 2013, the emissions they report will enter the ETS. The issue at present is controversial, with China telling airlines not to take part and US firms mounting a legal challenge. The ETS will add only about $3 to the price of a trans-Atlantic flight. In February, 23 countries that had debated whether to challenge the legality of the EU move under the Chicago Convention decided not to press ahead.   Click here to view full story…

Manston Airport night flights opposed by Thanet Council

May 14, 2012    Proposals for limited nighttime flying at Manston Airport in Kent are to be opposed by Thanet District Council. Members of the cabinet agreed the potential economic benefits had been over-estimated and noise disturbance under-estimated. Council leader Clive Hart said a public consultation had “clearly demonstrated” a large number of residents (73%) were against flights operating between 23:00 and 07:00 BST. The cabinet’s recommendation will now go to full council to be debated. Mr Hart said: “Encouraging regeneration in Thanet and supporting local businesses is vital to the success of the area, but this can’t come at any cost.” The airport claims night flights are needed so it can become a viable airport, which Infratil are currently trying to sell. The airport will take the views of TDC into account in their decision on night flights. The local MP, Roger Gale, is vehemently in favour of the night flights.   Click here to view full story…

After 28 days the Nantes hunger strike ends, with concession from authorities to reconsider land expropriations. Airport held up for 2 years.

May 9, 2012

After 28 days of hunger strike, which Michel Tarin endured to the end, and 5 others fasted for slightly shorter periods, the strike has ended. At last there have been concessions from the local authorities that the compulsory purchase of land owned by farmers and other local residents will be suspended for the time being. The expropriations will not now go ahead until the outcome of several legal proceedings that have been filed against the proposed airport. It is likely that these legal challenges will take up to two years, giving the campaigners two more years in which to continue their opposition. The hunger strikers ended their fast with bowls of soup, and though exhausted, they are delighted with the result. Drinking their soup together, surrounded by a huge an efficient network of support, the hunger strikers emphasized the quality of support they received each day and the climate of affection and solidarity that has buoyed them up during their ordeal.  Click here to view full story…

May 8th. The 27th day of the Nantes airport hunger strike – 5 hunger strikers are still continuing.

  May 7th, 2012

On 3rd May the campaigners against the proposed airport outside Nantes in South West France occupied the centre of Nantes with a convoy of tractors and 1,000 people – and 15 young cows. They are supporting the peasant farmers whose land would be compulsorily purchased for the new airport, and who have nearly completed their 4th week of a hunger strike.  They are relieved that Hollande has won the Presidency.  The campaigners had earlier forced Hollande, who has supported Nantes Airport, to agree it will not go ahead until all the legal cases have been heard.  Sarkozy had just said the area is just a wasteland without the airport! The protesters see that as an insult to the beautiful farming area and especially to the farmers on hunger strike. The 5 hunger strikers are getting weaker, and finding the exhaustion more difficult. They are brave people.   Click here to view full story…

Are the B787 Dreamliner’s claims to be a new generation in aircraft fuel efficiency over-stated?

May 7, 2012      Kevin Lister has written an open letter to the Aviation Minister, Theresa Villiers, pointing out to her that, despite all the hype about the Dreamliner being touted as the first of a new generation of planes, it is not greatly more fuel efficient than others. It is not likely to “solve” the industry’s future fuel or emission problems. Looking at the likely number of passengers, the range and the fuel capacity, the fuel consumption figures for the A380, Boeing 787, 777, and 747 very comparable. And are in the same range as the old Lockheed Constellation aircraft of the 1950s. The Dreamliner has lighter components, using carbon fibre rather than aluminium. But its main aim is to be a slightly smaller plane, that can fly long distance, without needing to refuel. This means carrying a great deal of fuel on take off for such a long trip. A doubling in a plane’s speed increases drag by a factor of four, and the power consumption of the engines by a factor of eight. Therefore, for greatest fuel efficiency, a plane would fly more slowly and over relatively short distances.   Click here to view full story…

Airlines oppose higher landing fee to cut immigration queues at Heathrow

May 3, 2012   BA, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines and Virgin are – unsurprisingly – totally against landing fees being used to pay for government border agency staff. An increase in landing fees, which are now £19.30 per passenger at Heathrow, must be approved by the CAA. A % is already used by BAA to pay for immigration control infrastructure, such as the new e-passport gates, but the money has not been used before to pay immigration staff. UK Border Force staff numbers have been cut by 800 in the past 2 years and a further 700 jobs will be lost by 2014-15. More than 550 volunteers (many retired and those recently redunded) are reportedly going to be drafted in to help man UK borders during the Olympics. Meanwhile Willie Walsh tried to make out some of the money from APD could be used for this. APD is not for that – it is to compensate for lack of VAT and fuel duty on air travel.    Click here to view full story…

Slowdown in cheap flights gives boost to British economy

April 30, 2012    New figures published by the Office of National Statistics show that the British are taking almost 20% fewer overseas holidays compared to 3 years ago, whilst the number of foreign tourists visiting the UK is virtually unchanged. This means a major boost for the UK Balance of Payments and shows that the Government’s policy of increasing APD is actually benefiting the UK economy, contrary to the claims made by the UK’s major airlines – and foreign tourists are not being deterred by APD from visiting the UK. The latest statistics show a decrease in overseas leisure trips by UK residents from 60 million to 49 million between 2008 and 2011 leading to a reduction in the UK’s tourism trade deficit from £20 billion to £13 billion. Inbound tourist numbers fell by just 300,000 over the same period. The boom in cheap leisure flights and the generous tax breaks given to the aviation industry actually harm the UK economy and damage traditional UK tourist destinations   Click here to view full story…

Nantes airport protest: 20th day of the hunger strike against the airport plan; still 4 hunger strikers, though two have had to end on health grounds

April 28, 2012    On the 15th day of the Nantes airport hunger strike, one of the farmers had lost 11 kilos and the other 12 kilos. Marcel (on the right) had to give up on Day 17, but he has been replaced by a lady called Marie.  Francoise had to give up, but was replaced by Severine. They are determined to continue. There are updates at http://parolesdecampagne.blogspot.fr/  They have also been visited by José Bové, the famous campaigner and now an MEP, who will keep them company overnight. He says the

presidential contenders, Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, must end their silence on the airport protest now the hunger strike is entering its 3rd week. They can no longer ignore it and they need to find a way to suspend the compulsory purchase of land and resume talks. Bové says the politicians have all the means they need to find a way out without losing face.    Click here to view full story…

Southend Airport terminal extension approved

April 23, 2012    Southend airport has been granted approval by Rochford Council for the extension of its terminal building.  The new terminal was opened in March, but the extension will add another 90 metes to it, more than doubling its size, with more check-in desks and baggage drop off points. more security screening channels, larger arrivals and departures lounges, more retail etc. There will also be five more aircraft stands.  Despite strong opposition, only one member of the public was permitted to speak against the application. Only two councillors voted against. Work on the extension will start later this year. It has emerged that Anglian Water were not informed of the application. SAEN understands that the water company is less than happy, as the new terminal as it stands was only just approved as it took the sewage system up to 100% capacity. The extension will exceed capacity.  The airport is looking at 6 million passengers per year by 2020, rather than the 2 million previously anticipated.    Click here to view full story…

Edinburgh Airport sold to Global Infrastructure Partnership for £807m

April 23, 2012    A deal has been struck to sell Edinburgh Airport to the owner of Gatwick and London City airports for £807m. GIP has beaten a consortium led by another infrastructure investor, JP Morgan Asset Management. The sale price, slightly more than expected, is payable in full at closing of the deal, expected in May. It is thought that GIP intends to improve the speed at which passengers move through the airport at check-in, security and baggage handling, and to link the airport with new routes. Its investment pattern is to sell the asset on after about 7 years. GIP is said to have improved the passenger experience at Gatwick. Edinburgh airport handled 9.5m passengers last year, caters for about 40 airlines, serves more than 100 destinations and currently generates around £50m EBITDA annually.   Click here to view full story…

Kehoe says BAA claims are a con, and Chinese companies are happy to fly to Birmingham, by-passing Heathrow

April 22, 2012      We have heard many aviation lobbyists claiming that if business people cannot get direct flights from Heathrow to a multitude of destinations, Britain’s economy is doomed. Now Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham airport, publicly disagrees, wanting to persuade those in power that flights to or from Birmingham will be quite acceptable to commerce, and can bypass Heathrow. And Birmingham gets the profit. He says BAA is “trying to conflate the wider British economic interest with the interests of Heathrow”. Kehoe says the claims that Britain’s economy requires new runways in the south-east are a “con” that an industry dominated by BAA will not question. He says he was in Chengdu recently, talking to Chinese airlines that were considering any entry point into the UK. Kehoe says the Chinese he had spoken to would be happy to come to Birmingham: “they see the UK as an important market and don’t care how they get there.” So lots of in-fighting within the industry, like dogs over a bone … They all want the money …   Click here to view full story…

Theresa Villiers shuts door on third runway at Heathrow

April 19, 2012    Ms Villiers stressed at an aviation conference in London that, although there were divergences of opinion within the Coalition on aviation policy, the Government would look at all options for increasing capacity in the South East “with the exception of a third runway at Heathrow”. She said “The Coalition has always been clear that its doesn’t support a 3rd runway at Heathrow – one of the very first acts as government was to confirm that.” And “The quality of life aspect of a 3rd runway with up to 22,000 more flights over London every year would be massive and there’s no technological solution in sight to ensure planes become quiet enough, quickly enough to make this burden in any way tolerable. So we need another solution.” This could also potentially put the Government on a legal collision course with BAA, which cautioned it could go down the route of a judicial review if Heathrow was the one option barred from the public inquiry into future hub capacity.    Click here to view full story…

Frankfurt night flight ban between 11pm and 5am upheld by higher court.  Implications for Heathrow?

April 6, 2012     A German court on Wednesday ruled in favor of a night flight ban at Frankfurt airport, Europe’s third busiest, dealing a blow to German flagship airline Lufthansa and airport operator Fraport. Lufthansa says it needs Frankfurt night flights so its cargo operations can compete with fast-growing Gulf airports and it will be hit financially if there is a ban. In 2009 the local government said it would allow 17 flights between 11 pm and 5am from the end of October 2011 on economic grounds. Then residents under the flight paths took the case to court. Their complaint was upheld in October by a local court just before the opening of the 4th runway. Now a judge at a higher court in Leipzig confirmed the ban and said the federal state of Hesse must make a new decision on whether to allow night flights. This will have implications for other European airports like Paris Charles de Gaulle and Heathrow.     Click here to view full story…

Aviation should be included in the UK’s carbon budgets, Government advisers, the CCC, recommend

April 5, 2012      The Committee on Climate change produced its long awaited statement on how aviation should be included in the UK’s 5-year carbon budgets. The Climate Act currently omits international aviation and shipping, but while setting budgets, the CCC has to “take account” of’ these emissions. The government must decide by the end of 2012 on whether to include them. The CCC recommends that international aviation and shipping should now be included, and that UK international aviation emissions should be back at the level they were in 2005 by 2050. The CCC says international aviation emissions should be added to currently legislated budgets based on the UK share of the EU ETS cap (i.e. 31 MtCO2e per year – which is 155 MtCO2e over the three 5 year budgets, taking us up to 2027). UK aviation emissions grew around 120% between 1990 and 2005. Due to the inclusion of aviation and shipping, the CO2 emissions of all other sectors have to be cut by over 80% of the 1990 level by 2005, so aviation is being given a very generous deal indeed. The CCC has decided not to include the non-CO2 effects of aviation for the time being, though these NOx etc impacts of other sectors are included, and it presumes that technology may be able to remove the problem in coming decades.   Click here to view full story…

Heathrow’s third runway is not happening – move on

March 28, 2012    It turns out that the stories about the government having changed its mind on a Heathrow 3rd runway were just rumours, set off by the aviation industry as part of their PR machine. The Financial Times quotes George Osborne’s office: “There is no softening on the question of a third runway at Heathrow.” This is significant, as the chancellor was the man consistently fingered as pushing for a review of the policy on Heathrow. In November 2011 the Chancellor said the government would “explore all options for maintaining the UK’s aviation hub status, with the exception of a third runway at Heathrow”. In reality, the practical and political difficulties of building a 3rd airport at Heathrow are insuperable. The high-profile aviation industry campaign has not produced any convincing evidence to back up its vociferous claims that the UK economy will suffer unless there is additional runway capacity. John McDonnell has called for publication of all contacts between the aviation industry and ministers, civil servants and party officials at all levels, to reveal lobbying.  Click here to view full story…

Why Heathrow does not need to be expanded and the UK does not need a new hub airport

March 26, 2012    There have been a great many speculative articles over the past few days, since the Chancellor announced the consultation on the draft white paper on aviation policy was suddenly, and unexpectedly, delayed till summer. A likely cause of the speculation is that the DfT is probably having to include Heathrow in the consultation, or risk legal challenge. GACC (the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign) has set out some of the key reasons why Heathrow does not need to be expanded, and why a new hub airport is not needed in the UK. Gatwick and Stansted have space and are well under capacity. There is nothing stopping airlines putting on flights to the Far East from London airports, it if is their choice to do so. If these flights could be run at a profit, they would be provided. Geographically, for travellers from Europe heading east, the UK is in the wrong place, so is not well situated as a hub for them. In another informative article, Murad Qureshi has also set out why Heathrow does not need to be physically expanded, as passenger numbers are already growing, it has more than enough space for business travellers, and large numbers of convenient flights via hubs like Dubai to anywhere further east. The problem with the growing number of passengers using Heathrow is the noise and local air pollution.   Click here to view full story…

Thousands gather at German airports to protest against airport expansion and aircraft noise

March 27, 2012   On Saturday 24th, thousands across Germany – perphaps as many as 30,000 – took part in protests at airports, against airport expansion and aircraft noise. At Frankfurt airport there were around 10,000 people, wanting a night flight ban from 22:00 until 6:00 and a cap on the number of take-offs and landings each day. At Berlin there were about 10,000 protesters against the planned new Brandenburg airport. And at Munich airport, over 500 people had a picnic in the terminal, protesting against a planned 3rd runway, the decision on which is due in June. There were also protests at Halle, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Bonn and Cologne – as well as at Nantes.                                   Click here to view full story…

 Munich picnic. Very German.

Belfast City Airport withdraws runway extension plan

March 23, 2012     The management of Belfast City Airport have withdrawn their plans for a 590 metre runway extension. It had first submitted its plan in 2008. The airport’s Chief Executive said it was being withdrawn as some of the information in the application was out of date. The airport had hoped that having an extended runway would mean it could attract a number of new airlines that could not use the existing runway to fly to European destinations. There was huge local opposition to the proposed runway extension, as there is a real problem with noise and a great many Belfast residents are overflown. Belfast City Airport Watch, a group which opposed the runway extension, said they were still worried about noise nuisance and that more – and noisier – international flights are still likely.  Congratulations to Belfast City Airport Watch for their perseverance and hard work on this over many years. Click here to view full story…

Osborne delays launch of government aviation consultation to “summer”

March 21, 2012    In his Budget speech, George Osborne said: “I also believe this country must confront the lack of airport capacity in the South East of England – we cannot cut ourselves off from the fastest growing cities in the world. The Transport Secretary will set out Government thinking later this summer.” The aviation consultation that had been intended to start sometime between the Budget and the end of March appears now to have been postponed, to an unspecified date – probably some time after May. This appears to have taken the DfT themselves by surprise. It is speculated that the reason has been disagreement between George Osborne and the Lib Dems, on the desirability of future aviation expansion. The Budget states that Air Passenger Duty (APD) rates will rise from April 2012, as had been set out in the Autumn Statement 2011. APD rates for 2013-14 will rise by the RPI from 1 April 2013. The aviation industry campaign to try and get APD reduced or removed has cut no ice with the Chancellor. Click here to view full story…

David Cameron says Britain needs bigger airport for London

March 19, 2012     Mr Cameron’s comments came in a speech in London shortly after a meeting of the so-called Quad of senior Tory and Liberal Democrat ministers to put the final touches to Wednesday’s Budget. He said:”I’m not blind to the need to increase airport capacity, particularly in the south-east.” “We need to retain our status as a key global hub for air travel, not just a feeder route to bigger airports elsewhere, in Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Dubai.” “Yes, this will be controversial. We will need to take decisions for the long-term – and we will be bringing forward options in our aviation strategy which will include an examination of the pros and cons of a new airport in the Thames estuary.” “The aviation paper that we will be producing will look at a range of options and possibilities, scope the whole issue but also look at what the estuary options are – obviously there is more than one.” Hints at expansion at Gatwick.   Click here to view full story…

UK Air Transport Movements in 2011 up a bit on 2010, but lower than any other year since 2003

For all UK reporting airports, ATMs were up +2.18%  compared to 2010. The number of ATMs in 2011 was  down 15% from the peak of  2,409,007  in 2007.  Click here to view full story …

Under-taxed Aviation Industry wants to pay even less tax!       It wants APD removed!

March 11, 2012    A report due out tomorrow will claim that Air Passenger Duty (APD) is hurting the economy. But it fails to address the reason for the tax. The report from Oxford Economics, and commissioned by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), will claim that removing APD would result in an additional 91,000 British jobs being created and £4.2 billion added to the economy in 12 months. AirportWatch Chair John Stewart condemned the report “as a little more than a self-interested attempt by the aviation industry to pay its full share of taxation. It pays no tax on it fuel and is zero-rated for VAT”. The aviation industry is actually under taxed. Not over taxed. In 2010/2011 the exemption from fuel tax and VAT was worth more than £11 billion to the airlines. After deducting APD revenues of around £2.5 billion in 2012 after the rise this coming April, the net benefit is around £8.5 billion – equivalent to a subsidy to the airlines of about £360 per household. John Stewart said“The Government has rightly ignored the special pleading of the aviation industry to pay even less tax. There is no indication that this latest report from the industry’s favourite consultant will change the Government’s mind.”    Click here to view full story…

ICAO: Global air passenger traffic up 6.4% in 2011, and expect it to rise 4.5% annually going forward to 2030

March 10, 2012     ICAO say the number of global air passengers rose by 6.4% in 2011. IATA said the number was 5.9%. ICAO says the rise in capacity was 6.5%, and IATA says it was 6.3% (revenue passenger kilometres). ICAO hopes global air passenger numbers will rise by 4.5% per year through to 2030. ICAO also predicts that total aircraft movements (including both passenger and cargo flights) will double from 24.79 million annually in 2010 to 51.71 million per year by 2030. IATA said in 2011, the rate of growth of international passengers was up 6.9%, while the growth in domestic passengers was up 4.2%, giving a total of up 5.9%. IATA says European passenger growth in 2011 was up 9.2%. AEA said its member airlines had growth of 7.2% in 2011. Europe is 26% of the total air passenger traffic, Asia-Pacific 30.5%, North America 27.1%, Middle East 8.1%, Latin America 5.8%, and Africa 2.5%.    Click here to view full story…

Manston Airport up for sale, as Infratil also sheds Prestwick

March 8, 2012    Manston Airport has been put up for sale by its New Zealand based owners, Infratil, leaving the future of its staff of around 100 uncertain. At Infratil’s Investor Day it announced that it intends to sell its two UK airports Manston and Prestwick because of a refocusing of its investment profile. MP Sir Roger Gale says “more than one serious player” was interested in buying Manston. For the time being it is business as usual for the airport. Infratil will prioritise its other business interests – which include electricity generation and retailing and natural gas as well as transport provision in New Zealand. The sale and the chance for a new start, could be good news for local residents profoundly opposed to the threatened night flights against which they have campaigned forcefully. Click here to view full story…

Opening of Southend Airport’s new terminal and runway extension

March 5, 2012    Southend has held its official opening of its new terminal building, and of its runway extension that is now completed. Local opponents fought a long and hard battle against the runway extension. At present the airport has just one destination airport – Waterford in Ireland. On 2nd April, easyJet flights to bucket-and-spade Spanish destinations start (Malaga, Ibiza and Mallorca) taking tourists and their money out of the UK. There will be 20-30 passenger daily flights this year, but Stobart hopes to eventually carry up to 2 million passengers annually and plans to extend the terminal further this summer. easyJet came to Southend due to cheaper landing charges than at Stansted. Some passengers will find the empty terminal and the easy train journey from London’s Liverpool Street easier than a trip to Stansted or Luton. Alistair Welch, the CEO, says he expects there to be 500 jobs created at the airport this year. 500? Really?  Click here to view full story…

Letter from business people in Sunday Telegraph lobbying for airport expansion

March 4, 2012   A group of business people from the business world, some from large organisations and some from apparently tiny ones, have written an open letter published in the Sunday Telegraph, on airport capacity. This letter is part of a campaign by the aviation industry and its supporters, in the run up to the start of the government consultation on future UK aviation policy that starts at the end of this month. There will be many more of these publicity grabs this month, and in the months to come. The letter reiterates the myth that the UK will somehow sink to being an economic backwater if the south east does not have an extra runway, if there is not a larger hub for flights to China etc etc. What is interesting is that repeatedly the industry does not appear to have any actual statistics to back up their claims. Self interest, rather than the wider good, appears to be the underlying motive.  Click here to view full story…

Birmingham Airport runway extension gets final green light

February 29, 2012   The final obstacle to Birmingham Airport’s runway extension project has been removed as shareholders gave the go-ahead to the £65m scheme. The 400 metre extension will give the airport the ability to offer long-haul flights to Asia and the US west coast. A long-awaited shareholders’ meeting signed off the airport’s business case for the scheme. Birmingham hopes to fly to business and leisure destinations such as China, South Africa and the west coast of America directly once its runway extension is built. The government has said it will contribute £15.7m from the Regional Growth Fund towards the cost of diverting the A45 to make way for the runway extension. Regional passenger body Centro will contribute £10m towards the work.    Click here to view full story…

Luton Airport expansion plans spark birth of new campaign group, HALE

February 24, 2012    A new campaign group called “Hertfordshire Against Luton Expansion” (HALE) – has been formed by angry residents living under Luton Airport’s flight paths, in response to Luton Borough Council’s plans to create an airport potentially bigger than Stansted or Manchester on the already congested site. HALE is seeking to mobilise people’s interest and awareness around Luton’s expansion plans, because to double the amount of noise, traffic and flights will be unbearable. HALE held their first public meeting on 23rd February. Feelings are running high, and the airport’s consultation is flimsy and inadequate, with insufficient information on almost all topics. HALE has researched noise figures and found that flights from Luton are getting noisier each year despite the myth that modern planes are quieter – the fact is that the fleets are getting larger, heavier and louder. Click here to view full story…

“futureLuToN:Optimisation” consultation on expanding Luton airport to 18 mppa

February 13, 2012    London Luton Airport Ltd, that owns the airport, has now launched its public consultation into expansion plans. The consultation (ends 26th March) is based on a few web pages of sketchy information and will include public exhibitions in village and community halls during February and March. They then plan to submit a planning application in April, expecting a decision by Luton Borough Council by Autumn 2012. The airport is operated by London Luton Airport Operations Limited on a 30 year concession (granted in 1998). The owner has the opportunity to terminate the current concession agreement from 2014. They want to increase passenger numbers from the current annual 9.5 million (in 2011, up to 18 million, while improving the passenger experience. This is what they call Optimisation. There is not one mention of climate change, or of carbon dioxide, in the entire proposal. They acknowledge there will be more noise, but there are no details and just thin, waffly assurances that everything possible will be done to minimise it.   Click here to view full story…  Extensive information at LADACAN.

Bird watchers, politicians, fisherman, environmentalists, yachtsmen and other worried residents join new campaign against Thames Estuary airport

February 11, 2012      On 10th February, about the coldest night of the winter, around 80 people attended a rousing meeting in Leigh on Sea, to both find out about what proposals for a Thames Estuary airport mean, and join a new campaign against it. Speakers included Keith Taylor (Green MEP); David Amess MP; Peter Wexham, a Southend councillor; George Crozer, an Isle of Grain Parish Councillor; Paul Gilson, a local fisherman, and David Hedges from the RSPB. They covered a wide range of issues relating to the impacts that a massive estuary airport might have, as well as the history of failed proposals in the past. A new campaign group is being set up, gearing itself up for the consultation on estuary airport proposals and also on future UK aviation policy, that starts next month. Another meeting will be arranged on the south bank of the estuary, on the Isle of Grain, to grow the campaign there.     Click here to view full story…

Manston Night Flights consultation – ends 2nd March

February 10, 2012      Thanet District Council is holding a public consultation, lasting for 28 days and ending on 2nd March. Its aim is to find out what the public think about Manston’s recent night flying proposal. All local residents in the area are encouraged to respond and send in their views. The consultation is not question-based, it simply asks for respondents’ opinion of the proposals. It will give more weight to the opinions of those living under the flightpath. The local opposition campaign, No Night Flights, is concerned that the proposals would mean there would be scheduled night flights; these would be freight, not passenger flights; the new proposal wants to shorten it to 11:30pm until 6am- rather than the normal 11pm to 7am; restrictions would only apply to this new shorter “night” – there would be no restrictions on the period 6 – 7am, or 11 – 11.30pm; Manston want 659 flights a year in this new shorter “night” – an average of 1.8 each night… could be none on Monday, none on Tuesday, 5 on Wednesday     Click here to view full story…

Aircraft Noise demos from Frankfurt to Berlin. Thousands of German noise opponents protest in several cities

February 4, 2012    There have been major protests at several German airports today, against aircraft noise, with whistles, drums and banners. There were about 20,000 protestors at Frankfurt protesting against noise from the new runway that opened in October. This was the largest protest at the airport since the opening . The police estimated the number of participants to 7,700, the organizers – a coalition of citizens’ groups against the airport expansion – spoke of 20,000 people. There were also demonstrations at Berlin, Leipzig, Munich and Dusseldorf.

Click here to view full story…  and More on Frankfurt airport ….

London First report wants 3rd Heathrow runway, and mixed mode on both its runways, as well as a new south east hub airport

February 1, 2012     London First, which calls themselves “an influential business membership organisation with the mission to make London the best city in the world in which to do business” have today produced a report called “London, Britain and the world: Transport links for economic growth”. The report says that an expanded at Heathrow as the “only credible option” for the capital. It accuses the government of being unwilling to consider “politically difficult solutions”. London First believes the connectivity of London is key in its success, and that “congested roads, overcrowded trains and aircraft circling above the South East waiting for permission to land at Britain’s only hub airport, Heathrow, are all signs of our critical strategic transport infrastructure operating at its limits and lacking resilience when put under pressure.” They are calling for significant improvement in London’s connectivity, both with the rest of the UK and with emerging international markets. They want easier planning and suggest varioius recommendations “to deliver short, medium and long-term improvements to London’s road, rail and air links.” They are asking for an expanded Heathrow, flights landing and taking off on both Heathrow runways (mixed mode) and a new south east airport ……..    Click here to view full story…

BAA agrees finally to sell back the 279 houses it has been hanging on to at Stansted. It has lost its appeal against having to sell Stansted, and given up on the 2nd runway

January 31, 2012    BAA has finally agreed to sell back all the 279 houses around that airport that it bought, when hoping to build a second runway. Most were bought around 8 years ago, but some as much as 30 years ago. But there is no timescale yet for the sales. This is a major shift in the company’s position; in March 2011, Mr Matthews declared that just some of the BAA-owned houses around the airport would be sold, whilst those which might one day be needed for a 2nd runway would be retained. However, BAA is still refusing to sell back the houses it owns around Heathrow on the grounds that they might one day be needed to make way for a 3rd runway there. Stop Stansted Expansion welcomed the news, which is long overdue, and will help remove the blight and uncertainty which has overshadowed the community for far too long.     Click here to view full story…

Work on Birmingham Airport’s long-awaited runway extension may start in summer

January 30, 2012   £100 million contract to build Birmingham Airport’s long-awaited runway extension and carry out major improvements to the A45 is expected to be approved within weeks. The airport and Birmingham City Council have shortlisted 4 construction companies for the work. The successful bidder is likely to be announced by March, with work likely to begin in the summer. The project claims it will bring jobs, boost the regional economy etc etc but has proved controversial with environmental groups including Friends of the Earth questioning the value of increasing the number of flights. FoE has been critical of the funding arrangements, with £26 million towards the £32 million cost of diverting the A45 coming from the public purse. Work to the A45 and the runway extension is expected to be completed by 2014.    Click here to view full story…

Proportion of business passengers fell between 2000 and 2010 at the five main UK airports

January 26, 2012    UK government figures show that the proportion of business passengers, international and domestic, have fallen at the 5 largest UK airports over the past 10 years. In 2000 around 38% of Heathrow passengers were on business, around 35% in 2005, but in 2010 it was 30.2%.  At Gatwick 17.4% of passengers were on business in 2000, but only 14.6% in 2010. At Stansted it was 18.4% down to 16.4%.  At Manchester 19.4% down to 17.9%.  At Luton, 24.5% of passengers were on business in 2000, but 19.1%  in 2010.  Data from the CAA annual passenger surveys each year give the details.  While the proportion of business passengers fell, those visiting friends and family, or on holiday, increased.   Click here to view full story…

London City Airport expected to be sold by GIP later this year or 2013

January 23, 2012     The Chief Executive of London City Airport, Declan Collier, has been asked to review the options for selling the airport. About 60% of its passengers are on business trips, so the airport is seen as of value to the City. However, the local residents in the area, some living very close to the airport and under its flight paths, derive little benefit from the airport and suffer its adverse impacts. This comes at a time of unprecedented upheaval for the airport industry. Edinburgh is up for sale, Stansted could be soon, and the Government is proposing an airport in the Thames estuary.The airport opened in 1987. It was bought by Dermot Desmond for £23.5m in 1995 after it had struggled to build business in its early years. It was then sold by Mr Desmond in May 2006, for about £750m, to a consortium of the American insurer AIG and GIP. AIG then sold its 50% stake to GIP in 2008. The prospect of the 2012 Olympics raised its price. At present it is unlikely to sell for much more than the £750m, but in a buoyant market, its owners GIP and the current minority stake partner Highstar Capital could expect as much as £1.25bn.    Click here to view full story…

David Cameron to give his provisional support to Thames estuary airport

January 17, 2012    Cameron is expected to offer his provisional support to Boris’s estuary airport scheme. He is now thought to back the project, though he was initially against it. The Thames airport proposal will be in the government’s aviation policy consultation that starts in March, though Downing Street says the government will make a final decision on the basis of the consultation process. This announcement may have been intended for earlier in the month, and may have been delayed by doubts by Nick Clegg. The Lib Dems used to have a policy to oppose airport expansion. Since we have committed to spend £32 billion on HST, there isn’t a lot of spare money for other projects.   Click here to view full story…

There are many stories on this airport idea at                                       Thames Estuary airport news

Manchester’s £650m Airport City master plan unveiled

January 12, 2012    Manchester Airports Group has produced its plans for an 150 acre Airport City , close to Manchester Airport. In April 2011 Government announced that Manchester Airport would be one of the first four Enterprise Zones, with Airport City at the core of the zone. The Airport City (also elsewhere called an Aerotropolis) would be in two zones, one with hotel, office, retail and advanced manufacturing space, and the other focusingn on freight and logistics. MAG will submit a planning application within weeks for the scheme’s main link road, with work set to start by spring and due for completion in 12-15 months. The rest of the building will take several years. MAG hopes to attract global businesses to work in their airport city, and create a project to compete with other locations in Barcelona, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Dusseldorf and Heathrow.   Click here to view full story…

The CAA (owned by airlines) produces advice to government to increase capacity in the south east

January 10, 2012   The CAA has now produced the third of its three “Insight Papers” for the DfT. It hopes these will influence the formation of new UK aviation policy, on which a public consultation will start in March. The CAA is not a neutral government agency; its membership is entirely airlines and air travel companies, and all its funding comes from them. It is therefore entirely biased in favour of aviation growth. The latest Insight Note, entitled “Aviation Policy for the Future” wants more airport capacity in the south east. It also wants policies to keep the price of flying cheap, and stresses the importance of aviation growth to the UK’s economic prosperity, while keeping remarkably silent on the impact of air travel in taking UK money out of the country. It includes strange suggestions on noise like introducing a cap and trade system, and increasing the degree of community trust in airports.   Click here to view full story…

HS2 high-speed rail project gets green light

January 10, 2012    Justine Greening has given the go ahead for the rail link from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, on 10th January. It will cost at least £32bn. This is the first phase of the route on which high-speed trains will start running in 2026 and this first phase should be only the foundation of a future network. Opponents question the huge expenditure for time savings of just half an hour between London and Birmingham. Between 2026 and 2032 other northern cities (Manchester, Leeds, will get their high speed links from the Y shaped network. There will be huge opposition and anger in constituencies through which HS2 would pass, which will face the prospect of years of construction for no direct local benefit. Legislation to enable the building of HS2 would go through Parliament in 2013.    Click here to view full story…

Aircraft noise measurements over London ‘inaccurate and misleading’

January 2, 2012    HACAN East, the new group representing residents affected by London City Airport, says that the way the government currently measure aircraft noise over much of London is both inaccurate and misleading. Now that aircraft approaching Heathrow join the approach path much further to the east than they used to, residents affected by planes using London City Airport are also overflown by planes descending to Heathrow. But the noise data for flights using each airport are measured separately and not combined. This problem has been known since 2007, and recognized as underestimating the total noise heard by residents. If the noise levels are combined, aircraft noise levels in parts of East London matches those in West London    Click here to view full story…

Airlines enter emissions trading scheme from 1st January 2012

December 31, 2011    On 1st January, aviation joins the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Airlines will have to obtain carbon credits for all carbon emitted during flights into and out of Europe. This could save around 183 million tonnes of CO2 each year by 2020. Passengers could expect between €0.5 and just under €3 to be added to ticket prices as a direct consequence of the ETS and easyJet said the cost would be about 30 – 50p per passenger for flights within Europe. Permits do not need to actually be handed over till 2013. In practice airlines are getting 85% of the permits they need in the first year free, so they are in a good position to make windfall profits out of them scheme. Airlines are trying to make out that they are already being charged an environmental tax, in APD. But APD is not seen by the government as being an environmental tax. Air passengers are therefore not being charged twice for their travel carbon emissions.  Click here to view full story…

Large weekly protests against noise at Frankfurt Airport having an effect

December 28, 2011    Every Monday 3 – 5,000 people go to Frankfurt airport to protest at the unacceptable level of noise they now find themselves subjected to, from the newly opened runway. Volker Bouffier, governor of the federal state of Hesse, recently met Frankfurt Airport, as well as representatives from airlines and air traffic control, in a desperate search for ways to keep the skies above the Rhine-Main even just a bit quieter. This was a tacit admission of serious negligence. With its focus on creating growth and jobs, the state government had for years underestimated just how extensively noise from the airport expansion would impact local residents, only to discover to its shock that it may have sentenced its own voters to a life smothered in aircraft noise.  Click here to view full story…

EU airline carbon tax (Emissions Trading System) backed by European Court

December 21, 2011   EU plans to levy an emissions tax on airlines are valid, according to the European Court of Justice. The decision means all airlines flying to and from the 27 states of the EU will face a tax on emissions from 1 January. US, Canadian and other carriers argue the charges violate climate change and aviation pacts but the ECJ ruled that the ETS does not infringe the principles of customary international law at issue or the Open Skies Agreement. Airlines can choose whether to fly to EU countries, or not. The US House of Representatives passed a measure two months ago directing the US transport secretary to prohibit US carriers from participating in the scheme if it were to come into force.  Click here to view full story…

CAA (whose membership is airlines and travel companies) says London has good connectivity now, but will need more airport capacity in future

December 15, 2011    The CAA, whose membership is air travel companies and operators, has produced an “insight note” to add to its contribution to input into the government’s work on developing a new aviation policy for the UK. There will be another major consultation on this next spring. The CAA says that whereas London has good connectivity now, “We conclude that choice, value and resilience are all likely to be affected in the absence of additional aviation capacity.” ie. The airlines and the tour operators want more airport capacity, and the CAA is lobbying for them.   Click here to view full story…

Business Jets over 5.7 tonnes to be charged APD after April 2013

December 10, 2011    Business jets will be charged Air Passenger Duty from April 2013. The Treasury says the reason for not charging it from April 2012 is that “changes will bring a substantial number of new operators into the APD regime and will require the introduction of special rules tailored to business aviation.” APD will be charged on any jet with more than around 6 – 8 seats, depending on the model. Many private jets in practice carry just 2 or 3 passengers. AEF figures on the CO2 emissions per private jet passenger, compared to premium class on a commercial airline, show them to be 3 – 8 times higher. Click here to view full story…

AirportWatch welcomes Government announcement that APD will rise in April and APD distance and class bands are retained

December 6, 2011    Air Passenger Duty rate banding for both distances and seat class will not be changed, the government has said. The 4 distance bands will be retained. There will be no reduced APD rate for premium economy. The government said any banding system would produce some anomalies, and the 4 band system produces fewer than a 2 band system. APD will increase 10% from 1 April 2012 as announced in the Budget last week and business jets of 5.7 tonnes or more will be included from 1 April 2013.   Click here to view full story…

Autumn statement by Chancellor. U-turn on Gatwick and Stansted airports and consideration of estuary airport. But APD will rise in April

November 29, 2011   In this autumn statement, George Osborne – in a desperate attempt to boost the economy – has turned his back on environmental safeguards and the green economy, to encourage high carbon infrastructure.  He has said he wants to improve, performance and resilience of airports. He says the Government is committed to maintaining the status of the UK as an international hub for aviation, with excellent connectivity to both developed as well as emerging markets. He said  ”And we will explore all the options for maintaining the UK’s aviation hub status, with the exception of a third runway at Heathrow.” So that means runways at  Gatwick and Stansted are to be considered again, as well as looking at an estuary hub.  However, on the plus side, even with all the lobbying by the aviation industry for APD to be reduced or frozen, the rates will rise in April  2012 in line with inflation.  [APD  announcement on 6th December for a 8% approx rise from 1st April 2012] .   Click here to view full story…

Draft Civil Aviation Bill published putting passengers first and largely ignoring environmental concerns

November 24, 2011    Transport secretary Justine Greening has published a draft version of the new Civil Aviation Bill, which is expected to be introduced by parliament early next year. She said the DfT’s new airports legislation was centred around the experience of the passenger. “This Bill couples our commitment to make our airports better rather than bigger with the Government’s wider agenda on better regulation”. There is almost nothing on environmental impacts of airports or aviation, with the CAA’s responsibilities on noise, emissions etc reduced – it just has to publish environmental information.  Click here to view full story…

Lord Foster’s Hoo Peninsula plans unveiled, and government says it will not rule out an estuary airport

Lord Foster has revealed ambitious plans for a multi-billion pound transport hub connecting the UK’s main sea ports and creating a huge new airport in Kent. The Thames Hub plans bring together a new river barrier and crossing, a 4 runway international airport on the Hoo Peninsula, and a shipping and rail complex. Foster says it will “lay the foundations for the future prosperity of Britain” and “create jobs across the UK and boost the economies …” etc.   Meanwhile it appears the government has not completely ruled out plans for a new estuary airport.

An aerial image of the Thames Hub airport, designed by Lord Foster.

Justine Greening said the coalition was willing to examine options to increase capacity in the region. They also back expansion at many airports, though not new runways at Heathrow, Stansted or Gatwick (yet). 2.11.1011 More …..

US-wide activist network to be set up to oppose aviation growth

A new US-wide activist network is to be set up to oppose the soaring growth of aviation in America.  The decision was taken after Americans heard from British campaigners John Stewart & Dan Glass about the success of similar networks in the UK. The new network will bring together local airport community campaigns with climate change activists and will press for investment in fast, affordable rail and coach systems as viable alternatives to many short distance flights.   31.10.2011  More …..

Reponses from numerous AirportWatch member organisations to the Scoping Document consultation

The DfT has consulted on its scoping document, to develop a “Sustainable Framework for UK Aviation”. This consultation closed on 20th October. There will be a further, full, consultation next March on the developing policy, for planned adoption by government in March 2013. AirportWatch has produced a range of supporting evidence documents, to back its arguments, and these as well as the AirportWatch response are now available. Also excellent, detailed, comprehensive and closely argued responses from a range of AirportWatch member organisations, arguing for a truly environmental responsible and sustainable future UK aviation policy.  20.10.2011  More …..

Aviation now contributes 4.9% of climate change worldwide

Work 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  …

Committee on Climate Change.

4th Carbon Budget UK should commit to a 60% cut in emissions by 2030 as a contribution to global efforts to combat climate change.

Aviation emissions must be no higher in 2050 than in 2005, and to do this, all other sectors must cut by 85% by 2050 to allow aviation to grow by 60%

The Committee on Climate Change today recommended a Carbon Budget for 2023-27 and a target for emissions reductions in 2030 – halfway between now and 2050. The recommended target for 2030, to cut emissions by 60% relative to 1990 levels (46% relative to current levels), would then require a 62% emissions reduction from 2030 to meet the 2050 target in the Climate Change Act. The Carbon Budget says international aviation and shipping should be included, and it is vital that UK aviation emissions in 2050 are no higher than in 2005.  Also that, as technologies to cut aviation emissions are not readily available, other sectors of the economy will need to cut by 85% in 2050 in order to let aviation grow by 60%.  7.12.2010  More …..