Welcome to AirportWatch
We are an umbrella movement uniting the national environmental organisations, the airport community groups, and individuals opposed to unsustainable aviation expansion
Vincent Cable and Jenny Jones join Heathrow Flash Mob Protest at the DfT
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Exeter airport publishes its draft Master Plan, for massive expansionThe Airport forecasts that passenger traffic will grow from the 1.05 million
passengers per annum (mppa) handled in 2007 to 1.9 mppa in 2015 and 3.4 mppa in
2030. This growth will be achieved through an improved network and increased frequency
of services with Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) growing from 18,600 in 2007 to 24,750
in 2015 and 38,000 in 2030. There will be no new runway, although but an extension
of the landing strip - which could pave the way for jumbo jets. There will also be slight increases in night flights and noise. 1.7.2008 More ..... |
EU ETS deal clinched on capping aircraft emissionsMEPs and national governments reached a landmark deal on 26th June on the details
of plans to include aviation in the EU's ETS as of 2012. Airlines would have
to cut emissions by 3% in the first year, and by 5% from 2013 onwards, paying
for 15% of their permits to pollute.
28.6.2008 More ..... | |||
Britain goes slow as trains, planes and ships cut fuel costsAs the oil price hit a record high of $142 a barrel (£71.14), easyJet and BMI confirmed they had asked their pilots to fly more slowly. EasyJet said it had cut flying speeds on some routes by up to 2% to conserve cash. BMI said it had dropped its average flight speed by around 3mph. Airlines said their planes were taking off and landing on time. Other airlines across the world have announced similar moves recently. BA and Ryanair said they are not reducing aircraft speeds. 29.6.2008 More ..... |
Single sky wins support amid airline fears over ETS (Single European Sky)Countries would have to surrender sovereignty over their national airspace in favour of a European air-traffic management system by 2012, according to proposals presented in Brussels. Regulations adopted in March 2004, aimed at creating a 'Single European Sky' (SES) by reforming the current Air Traffic Management system. The European sky remains broadly divided into 27 pieces of airspace under the control of national governments. 28.6.2008 More ..... |
CAA figures for the 1st quarter of 2008 show UK aviation growingCAA figures for the first quarter of 2008 are now available. These confirm that
for the first quarter of 2008, compared with the same period in 2007:
The number of terminal passengers at UK airports grew 2% (with scheduled growing
3% and chartered flights down 1%).
At regional airports, total number of passengers were up 3%, but number of flights
were down 3%, indicating higher load factors.
[During the quarter, the price of oil was always below $111 ]. 24.6.2008 More ..... | ||
Ministers defeat planning rebels at third reading of the Planning BillThe government has survived a Labour rebellion over plans to speed up the planning
process for big projects such as airports and nuclear power stations. A bid to
ensure ministers get the final say on decisions by an independent body was rejected
by 303 votes to 260. Hazel Blears said there would be a review of the IPC after 2
years, with ministers intervening if there were problems. 25.6.2008 More .....
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Cost of tackling global climate change has doubled, warns SternThe author of an influential British government report in 2006 arguing the world
needed to spend just 1% of its wealth tackling climate change has warned that
the cost of averting disaster has now doubled to 2%. Stern said evidence climate
change was happening faster than previously thought meant emissions needed to
be reduced even more sharply. The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
would have to be kept below 500ppm. 26.6.2008 More ..... |
BAA 'should axe 5,000 flights' to reduce delays at HeathrowBAA should scrap nearly 5,000 flights per year to ease congestion at Britain's
biggest flight hub, according to the business group, London First.
It said action needs to be taken immediately to stop delays at Heathrow, because
a proposed 3rd runway will not be ready until at least 2020. The lobby group for
businesses in the capital said BAA could reduce delays by cutting 1% of flights
- equivalent to 4,800 arrivals and departures. 25.6.2008 More ..... | ||
Protesters march to oppose NATS proposalsCampaigners fighting plans to re-route aircraft over their peaceful villages
marched through London to protest. They said the stacking proposals would sound
the death knell for their idyllic villages. MPs joined the protestors from Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedford-shire and Hertfordshire to
add their voices to the demonstration. 19.6.2008 More .....
and more photos |
Tories to block third runway at HeathrowDavid Cameron indicated that a Conservative government is likely to block a 3rd runway for Heathrow. He called on the government to make Heathrow "better, not bigger" and denied that the party was abandoning its green agenda. Cameron said his objections to Heathrow were not just on environmental grounds. ""The economic value of transfer passengers is hotly disputed. And there are so many examples of the hub model going wrong ..." 16.6.2008 More ..... |
EU faces new calls to limit greenhouse gasesThe European Environment Agency has reported large increases in emissions of
CO2 from aviation and shipping, prompting environment officials to redouble calls
for regulation. Planes had contributed nearly 5 million more tons of emissions,
an increase of 4.1% from 2005 to 2006, while international shippers added 10 million
tons, a 6.3% increase, and road transport emissions grew by 0.7% from 2005 to
2006.
20.6.2008 More ..... | ||
Morgan Stanley says air fares could rise by 40%Airline passengers face the threat of a 40% increase in the cost of flights over the next year unless the price of oil falls. City analysts are also predicted those using low-cost carriers could be particularly badly hit. 20.6.2008 More ..... |
Scotland - Hilton delegates shocked by the elephant in the roomA 5 metre high giant inflatable elephant shocked delegates at the Edinburgh Caledonian Hilton. It was a huge visual reminder that aviation remains a massive elephant in the room as long as emissions from aviation continue to be ignored in the Scottish Climate Change Bill. 17.6.2008 More ..... |
The rise and fall of Stansted AirportThe continued downward slide in the number of passengers using Stansted Airport has led campaign group Stop Stansted Expansion to call on BAA to scrap its misguided expansion plans for making the airport bigger than today's Heathrow with a second runway. 11.6.2008 More ..... | ||
Thousands of protesters create gigantic NO sign at Sipson, after march against Heathrow expansion3,000 protesters converged on Heathrow to say NO to airport expansion - and joined
together to form a massive NO sign visible from the sky. 31.5.2008 More ..... and more pictures ..... |
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Stansted Runway proposal deadline extended to 26th SeptemberThe deadline for formal responses to a proposed second runway at Stansted Airport has been extended to 26th Sept. If approved, the £2.5bn development would open in 2015 and serve 68 million passengers a year by around 2030, compared to 23.7 million in 2007. The CO2 group of councils have called on government to re-think its aviation strategy. 31.5.2008 More ..... |
Blackpool Airport - Fury over airport expansionResidents are on the war path to fight radical plans for a 10-fold expansion of Blackpool Airport. People across Fylde are gathering ranks for a battle of "David and Goliath" over a plan to transform the airport into one of the biggest in the North West. An action group called ROAR was formed this week. The master plan expects passenger numbers to go from 350,000 last year to 4.3m in 2030. 31.5.2008 More ..... |
Airlines face ‘severe’ recessionThe global airline industry is facing a recession far more severe than that after the terrorist attacks of 2001. The true health of the aviation market - especially in the US - will not become clear until this autumn, after the key holiday season. Many flights over the next few months were booked months ago, so it distorts the true picture of what is happening. March saw the fastest decline in premium traffic for 5 years. 31.5.2008 More ..... | ||
March Business Travel Falls Most Since 2003 - IATAThe number of international airline passengers traveling first class and business
class in March declined the most since 2003, according to IATA. The decline reflected
a sharp slowdown in financial sector activity and a weakening US economy. IATA
said in a report that global first class and business class traffic in March fell
3.9% from the same month last year.
30.5.2008 More ..... |
EU proposes early start to aircraft emissions schemeThe European Parliament has proposed accelerating the inclusion of the aviation
industry in the Emissions Trading Scheme, the carbon credit system which is the
centrepiece of the bloc's efforts to curb climate change. The Parliament's environment
committee voted that any airline touching down in the EU from 2011 would have
to adhere to pollution targets set out by the scheme – a year earlier than previously
suggested. 28.5.2008 More ..... |
Cheap flights boom over, says British Airways chief as oil hits new highBritain's leading airline boss declared the era of cheap flights over yesterday
as the price of oil hit a record high. Fuel accounts for around a third of airlines
budgets.
Willie Walsh, Chief Executive of BA, said the soaring cost of oil allied to global
economic uncertainty would force airlines to raise fares in a scramble for survival
that will see many unprofitable airlines go bust. 23.5.2008 More ..... | ||
Three Councils lose their legal challenge to curb Heathrow night-time noiseThree councils (Richmond and Wandsworth councils, and Windsor and Maidenhead)have lost their High Court claim that the government did not deal with the intrusive effects of aircraft noise at Heathrow at night. The councils had challenged ministers' pronouncements on noise levels and wanted judges to overrule decisions on which type of plane, and how many, could land before 0600 BST. The High Court ruled that the Transport Secretary was under no obligation to improve conditions for residents woken up by early morning arrivals at Heathrow. 24.5.2008 More ..... |
Put UK airport expansion on hold, demands green group, the Sustainable Development CommissionThe government should completely rethink its aviation policy and shelve plans to expand Heathrow and Stansted airports, according to an influential advisory body, the Sustainable Development Commission. It warned that the government faced a wave of legal challenges if it did not hold an independent review of its 2003 aviation white paper, which sanctioned new runways at Heathrow, Stansted and other airports. The DfT predicts a doubling of UK air travel to 465 million passengers a year by 2030. 20.5.2008 More ..... |
Bristol Airport - major setback for airport walkwayCampaigners fighting to prevent the expansion of Bristol Airport have won the first round of their fight to stop a covered walkway being built. They said the walkway scheme was an undercover way of increasing the airport's passenger capacity, and was in fact a major 2-storey building 450m long 8m high and 8m wide. The airport wanted to build the walkway, under permitted development rights, without submitting a formal planning application. Councillors from North Somerset Council agreed that it wouldn't be allowed without their permission. 15.5.2008 More ..... | ||
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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
Copyright AirportWatch, 2004