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Latest news stories:
Oral evidence to the Transport Select Committee on Heathrow noise
At a recent meeting of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee some thought-provoking comments emerged about the monitoring of noise levels around the UK's airports. In response to a question on whether noise pollution should be part of the Environment Agency's remit on Heathrow, Lord Smith agreed that it would make sense in order to establish a joined-up approach. But the Agency has no experience yet of carrying out noise pollution assessment.
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Southend – Is port link real reason for buying our airport?
Eddie Stobart may not have purchased Southend Airport as a passenger airport. A statement made by Andrew Tinkler in October 2008 said that the firm is evaluating the possibility of replicating its Widnes 3MG (Mersey Multi-Modal Gateway) distribution complex at the new London Gateway container port at Shellhaven. Once finished, the site would be one of the UK’s largest container ports. Stobart would like a share of the warehousing at Shellhaven. (Echo)
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NTSB: Crashed Convair 580 (cargo) had reversed elevator trim cables
US investigators have confirmed that elevator trim cables on a Convair 580 freighter had been reversed before the aircraft crashed in Ohio last September with the loss of all 3 occupants. The aircraft, operated by Air Tahoma, had undergone maintenance before the 1 September flight, including disconnection, rigging and reconnection of all flight-control cables in the empennage. The cables were reversed, so nose-up trim became nose-down trim. (Flightglobal)
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Tories vow to ditch Stansted expansion plans
Theresa Villiers has renewed her pledge to scrap plans for a 2nd Stansted runway at a meeting with SSE. She discussed the implications of the Competition Commission’s ruling that BAA must sell Stansted and heard details of the reduction in the Government’s air passenger forecasts which now show that there would no demand for a 2nd Stansted runway before 2030. She was even more convinced that the runway could not be justified economically. (NCE)
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New U.N. Climate Deal: Not Much Bolder Than Kyoto?
A planned new UN climate pact is shaping up to be a mildly tougher version of the existing Kyoto Protocol rather than a bold treaty to save what US President Obama has called a "planet in peril." The E3G think tank said there was not a lot of ambition in the submissions to the UN published this month to meet a deadline for consideration in a deal in Copenhagen in December. Targets for CO2 cuts by 2020 are far too low to avoid a rise of over 2C. (Reuters)
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EU freezes airline take-off slot rules
Airlines hit by the economic slowdown will gain new flexibility in how they use take-off and landing slots after the EU assembly agreed on Thursday to loosen "use-or-lose rules". The decision was the last step in a process that protects traditional carriers like BA but has angered airports and budget airlines like easyJet. Carriers will be entitled to the same slots in summer 2010 season as were allocated in 2009, regardless of how much they use them.
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EasyJet won’t axe flights from Bristol despite profit losses
easyJet says it has no plans to axe further flights from Bristol despite posting losses of almost £130 million in 6 months. The firm, which operates 39 different routes from Bristol, has announced its losses had more than doubled to £129.8m in the 6 months to March 31, compared with £48.4m a year ago. In the first 3 months of 2009, In the first three months of this year, there was a 21% drop in passengers comparet to the same period in 2008. (This is Bristol)
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Government paves way for 400m runway extension at Birmingham Airport
Plans to extend the runway of Birmingham to accommodate long-haul flights have received a resounding approval from the Government. The Secretary of State has decided not to intervene in Solihull council’s decision to grant planning permission for the scheme. This means that subject to the signing of legal agreements with the airport the plans will have the full go ahead. Solihull granted planning permission for the extension last month. (B'ham Post)
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Coventry Airport put up for sale
Coventry Airport, which lost its only passenger airline last year and has seen plans for a new terminal rejected, has been put up for sale. Thomsonfly left in November. Plans for a new terminal were dropped in February. A public inquiry had found they would have an adverse impact on noise in the area. The airport director said they are concentrating on developing the airport as a 'Midland hub' for cargo, executive jets and ad hoc charter operations. (BBC)
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Responsible view on third runway – Jeff Gazzard letter to the Times
The view of some of the UK’s respected business names to say "no" to a 3rd runway at Heathrow is, for once, a meaningful statement of corporate and social responsibility. Too often businesses hide behind the "greenwash" shield of CSR as a diversionary tactic to deflect attention from massively polluting business-as-usual activities, which is why this stance is a welcome breakthrough... Opposing a predict and provide policy for aviation is simply pro-planet.
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RAF Lyneham (Wiltshire) to close in 2012
RAF Lyneham will close in less than four years' time, an MP has disclosed. Conservative MP James Gray was shown an internal letter confirming the RAF base, in Wiltshire, would shut down on December 31, 2012. Its closure was announced in 2003, but plans were drawn up under Project Belvedere to site helicopters at the base – where 750 civilians currently work – to keep it running. (Telegraph)
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CBI hits back on Heathrow runway
Richard Lambert, director-general of the CBI, said there is a "strong consensus" that a new runway at Heathrow much go ahead. He said Heathrow expansion was so important that steeper cuts in carbon emissions must be made in other sectors to allow it to proceed while meeting the government's target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. "Other sectors will have to do more, if we think aviation is important" (FT)
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Independent Leader: The case for a third runway has been further eroded
The business models of the airline industry have long been based on the presumption of ever expanding demand for flights and the perpetual indulgence of national governments. Both those presumptions are looking increasingly shaky. Like Britain's ministers, the aviation sector needs to wake up to some stark new economic and environmental realities. (Independent)
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CBI tested in spat over Heathrow runway
The CBI is facing a stern test of its authority as the main voice of business after its supportive stance on Heathrow’s expansion was undermined by a band of prominent executives. Ministers have claimed for months that the scheme has the solid support of business groups such as the British Chambers of Commerce, CBI and London First. But cracks in that unified front have appeared after a letter calling for a halt to the 3rd runway. (FT)
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Business can do without a Heathrow third runway – letter from 13 business leaders
A letter to the Times, signed by 13 top business leaders including Ian Cheshire (Chief Executive, Kingfisher), Russell Chambers (Adviser, Credit Suisse), Jon Moulton (Founder, Alchemy Partners) says it is a misconception that the business community support the Government rationale for a 3rd runway at Heathrow. They say the business benefits are unclear and unproven, and there is little benefit from increased reliance on transfer passengers. (Times)
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Top business executives lead revolt on Heathrow 3rd runway
The leaders of some of Britain’s biggest companies have begun a revolt against plans for a 3rd runway at Heathrow. The campaign includes chief executives of leading companies – J Sainsbury, Carphone Warehouse, Kingfisher, and Compass. One group member said many people in business have misgivings about the decision on the 3rd runway, and it's possible to be pro-transport, pro-aviation and yet, at the same time, pro responsible citizenship - and the real business case for the expansion has not been made. (Sunday Times)
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Mock funeral by Heathrow Cherry Lane Cemetery runway protesters
Activists opposed to a 3rd runway at Heathrow held a mock funeral to highlight a cemetery which could be affected. Campaigners fear a dual carriageway may be built through Cherry Lane Cemetery in Harlington to link the planned runway and a 6th terminal. Activists marched from Trafalgar Square to Westminster led by a hearse, and a second event at Harlingdon. BAA say they have scrapped the plans, but Cherry Lane Against Development doubt the promise. (BBC)
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Liverpool John Lennon Airport stake up for sale
Airport owner Peel is planning to sell up to a 49% stake in its airport business, and it wants to splash out £12.5m on revamping security and shopping facilities. It denies the new developments are dependent on getting an investor on-board, and they want a new partner to help further develop the assets of the company, which includes greenfield land. The planned revamp of facilities is to boost retail sales, as currently passengers can bypass the shops. (Echo)
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Ferrovial receives depressed bids for Gatwick
Ferrovial received at least 2 bids for Gatwick on Monday as the first part of the forced break-up of BAA. The offer prices, estimated by analysts to be in the range of £1.3bn to £1.5bn, due to the recession, a steep decline in traffic etc, were well below Ferrovial's expectations of last September, when it hoped to attract bids in the range of £1.8bn to £2bn. Offers were submitted by Global Infrastructure Partners and a consortium led by MAG. (FT)
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Bird cull to make way for planes – Manchester
Hundreds of bird-watchers have signed a petition to save 800 rooks facing a cull at Manchester Airport. The action was due to be taken against the flock of birds, which have nested in woods near Dunham Massey for 300 years, on Thursday. The rookery, on a golf course, is directly under a flight path from the airport. The airport has postponed the cull to hold talks with the local community, many of whom say the cull is "unnecessary and cruel". (BBC)
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Government deals further blow to Stansted runway plans
Figures contained in last week’s Budget Report – and their impact on the DfT forecasts for UK air travel demand – show that the gloomier outlook for the UK economy means that a new Stansted runway would not be needed before 2030 at the very earliest. SSE calculates that now demand forecasts for Stansted will reduce to about 42.7 million passengers by 2030, well within the capacity of the existing runway. BAA had anticipated 68 million passengers by 2030. (SSE)
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Is biofuel policy harming European biodiversity?
Transport is responsible for about 25% of the energy-related greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. The EU has set a target of 5.75% share of biofuels in the transport section for all EU Member States by 2010, and 10% by 2020. More growing of biofuel crops could lead to an increasing pressure on the environment, habitat loss and biodiversity decrease, especially if habitats are converted into monoculture plantations for biofuel. (Science Daily)
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Gatwick bidders say second runway is vital
Despite concerns about pollution and the environment, the bidders wanting to buy Gatwick each argue that a 2nd runway is crucial, if they are to be able to compete effectively with BAA. An earlier government pledge guarantees no new runway would be built until at least 2019. GACC argues why a 2nd runway is a non-starter, partly as there is no physical space for it between Horley and Crawley, and there is massive local opposition including councils and MPs.
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Police caught on tape trying to recruit Plane Stupid protester as spy
Tilly Gifford, from Plane Stupid, has revealed in secretly recorded discussions between herself and covert officers claiming to be from Strathclyde police, that the officers attempted to recruit her as a paid spy, and pay her undisclosed sums of money. Tilly recorded the meetings to expose how police seek to disrupt the legitimate activities of climate change activists. The officers said money would be paid cash, to avoid an audit trail. (Guardian)
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Rich nations greenhouse gas emissions rise in 2007
Greenhouse gas emissions from industrialized nations rose by nearly 1% in 2007, led by strong gains in the United States. Carbon emissions from countries signed up to the Kyoto Protocol climate pact edged up by 0.1% in 2007, mainly due to rises in Japan and Canada. Under Kyoto, 40 or so developed countries committed in 1997 to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2% below 1990 levels between 2008-2012.
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Low Gatwick passenger number may hit price-bidders
BAA may raise less than it hoped from the sale of Gatwick after latest passenger numbers there disappointed, putting downward pressure on its valuation. A source close to one of the bidders said that BAA significantly over-estimated passenger numbers for March - which were 17.7% down on March 2008. The deadline for prospective buyers to put in bids is April 27. Gatwick is very reliant on "bucket and spade" summer charter flights. (Guardian)
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USA – Transportation chief rejects secrecy on bird data
The Transportation Secretary is scrapping a proposal by the FAA that would make secret its data on when and where birds and airplanes collide. He believed the public had a right to the information. Until now, FAA officials had said it was necessary to keep specific information from the public because it might discourage voluntary reporting. The information could also be embarrassing to some airports with higher numbers of bird strikes. (Washington Post)
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Budget 09: APD to increase but aviation is excluded from first ever carbon budget
The Aviation Environment Federation (AEF) has published its comment on the budget. It can be found on the AEF website at www.aef.org.uk AEF remains concerned that the Government’s continued failure to bring aviation emissions into line with climate policy will put any long term targets out of reach
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Budget – Pledge to reduce greenhouse gases
The chancellor has announced measures aimed at cutting the UK's greenhouse gas emissions. The Budget commits the UK to cut CO2 emissions by 34% by 2020. To ensure an 80% cut in emissions by 2050, the government needed to have cut emissions by 42% by 2020, against a 1990 baseline. The first carbon budgets have been set. However, the CCC has recommended that international aviation is not explicitly included in the UK’s carbon budgets at this stage.
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Delta to Ground its entire fleet of 14 Freighters
Delta Air Lines will ground its entire fleet of 14 freighters as it addresses big losses and a steep decline in cargo business. The aircraft, long operated by Northwest Airlines before Northwest merged with Delta late last year. Delta's first quarter had a $794 million net loss. It said it will ground the freighters "due to the fleet’s age and inefficiency." (Journal of Commerce)
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Aberdeen: North-east’s new link with Cardiff is launched
Transport links between the north-east and Wales were strengthened with the launch of a direct flight between Aberdeen and Cardiff, which will fly 6 days a week. It is the 9th route provided by Flybe and Loganair from Aberdeen. The firms became franchise partners in October. The service will operate from Sunday to Friday with fares available from £44.99. It is expected to be used bybusiness travellers, students, tourists and residents. (Press and Journal)
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Minister: “Leeds Bradford – London flights are capital idea”
The Minister for Yorkshire - Rosie Winterton MP - has welcomed the news that flights from Leeds Bradford to London will be taking off again this summer. Flybe, Europe's largest regional airline, is launching a new 3 times daily service to the capital. The airline has stepped in to reconnect Yorkshire travellers and Gatwick following rival bmi's decision in March to axe its flights to Heathrow. (Yorkshire Evening Post)
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Enough green talk. Now make it happen – Nicholas Stern
The 3rd runway go-ahead throws doubt on the Government's eco-credentials. This Budget tomorrow could put it back on track - and is a critical test of the consistency and credibility of the Government's policies on climate change. The Government has accepted the overwhelming arguments for reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases by at least 80%, compared with 1990, in the next 40 years. It is vital the Government shows it is credible on the environment. (Times)
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Farnborough Airport – TAG plan ‘ignores objectors’
The owner of Farnborough has confirmed that it wants to almost double the number of aircraft using the airport. TAG Farnborough Airport has just published its completed Master Plan, with plant for the next 20 years. It is now preparing to submit a planning application to increase the limit on take-offs and landings at the airport from 28,000 to 50,000 a year. Campaigners have accused TAG of ignoring the views of local people. (Get Hampshire)
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Lydd and Manston Airports Report Losses
The latest report and accounts filed at Companies House reveal that London Ashford Airport (Lydd Airport) owned by Sheikh Fahad al Athel, employs 54 people and is losing £1.9m per annum. The larger Kent International employs 92 people and is losing £4m per annum. CAA statistics for 2008 reveal that Lydd Airport handled 1,673 passengers and Manston 11,657 passengers - both about 1% of their potential capacity. (LAAG)
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Macquarie puts Bristol International airport up for sale
Macquarie has put Bristol airport up for sale as it scrambles to raise cash. The group is understood to have sounded out potential buyers for the airport, which carried more than 6m passengers in 2008. Possible bidders include Prudential’s M&G’s infrastructure fund and Fortis, which recently bought Belfast’s George Best airport. The airport was valued at around £283m in 2006, but interested bidders are likely to offer much less now. (Sunday Times)
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Luton – Call for review of night flights
Dacorum Borough Council is calling on Luton Airport to review the number of night flights from its runway. The council hss written to the airport urging it to review its Night Noise Policy - to take effect from 1 April 2010, and says local residents are subjected to twice the number of night flights (36) than take-off from Heathrow (16). It is asking that aircraft movements do not rise above their current numbers during the night period. (BBC)
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Firms abandon carbon offsets
Carbon offset projects in emerging economies, once the darling of British companies keen to address their environmental impact, are becoming the latest casualty of the recession. Sales of credits for voluntary offsetting projects plummeted 70% during the first two months of this year compared with the last two months of 2008. The price of these credits also suffered, falling 30%. Companies are realising it is more sensible to cut their emissions. (Times)
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London City Airport – Flightpath talk was blocked – claim
Havering Council has been accused of deliberately stifling criticism of controversial flightpaths over the borough. Residents were furious that the council twice delayed debate on proposals for increased flights over Hornchurch. Under the NATS plan 2 flight paths from City Airport would be re-directed over Hornchurch, and with the airport's plan to increase flights by 50% this could be 40 more flights per day over the borough. (Recorder)
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Blackpool Airport to expand car park as “demand soars” !!??
The airport plans to extend the terminal's car parks, by 500 spaces. There are currently 485 passenger parking spaces and 135 visitors spaces. There is also an overspill car park with 120 spaces. The airport, which made a pre-tax loss of £4.2m for the year to May 2008, is trying to attract passengers from other North West airports as it seeks to turn a profit. Bob Fielding, from the lcoal group ROAR said: "Airport expansion is now a thing of the past." (Gazette)
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Controversial Leeds-Bradford airport plan stays grounded
Plans for a £28m extension at the terminal have been scuppered for the time being. Councillors delayed a decision on the scheme amid concerns about the impact it could have on roads in the area after getting more than 900 letters of objection. The proposed terminal extension is part of a £70m investment programme that Bridgepoint Capital intend to carry out over the next 5 years. Panel members said they could not give the scheme their backing at this stage
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Leeds Bradford Airport’s £70m expansion plan under threat in transport clash
Plans to expand Leeds Bradford have been kicked into touch. The airport wants to increase passenger numbers to 5.1 million a year by 2016. Planning councillors unanimously agreed to defer their decision. They indicated broad support for the expansion, but criticised the airport's transport blueprint for failing to tackle key issues. These included transport links from Leeds. The plans will now be discussed again by councillors at a later date. (Yorkshire Post)
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New date set for Stansted inquiry – at least 3 months ahead
A date for an inquiry into the development of one Stansted's 2nd runway will be announced by the end of next month. The hearing was put back last month. Now the DCLG has set a new timetable for the public inquiry. There will then be a minimum of 8 weeks between the announcement and the start of the inquiry. The hearing had been held up to allow BAA to consider the implications of a Competition Commission ruling that the airport should be sold. (Gazette)
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White House extends aviation biofuel program
The US federal government has extended a research program to develop biofuels for use in commercial aircraft, by 5 years. The US Agriculture Secretary and the Transportation Secretary made the announcement, and said this would create jobs and economic opportunity in rural America, as well as lessen America's reliance on foreign oil. They want aviation biofuels for civilian aviation as well as for the military. The “Farm to Fly” initiative wants production of drop-in aviation biofuels to reach 1 billion gallons per year by 2018. The White House has promoted the aviation and other biofuel programs as a way to lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce dependence on foreign oil and grow domestic biofuel companies. The Farm to Fuel plan is to use food crops - not only non-edible feedstocks, such as algae, because these are progressing too slowly and are not produced in large quantities. There seems to be little mention of concerns about food impacts of producing biofuels from food crops.
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Brtish Airways results and passenger figures for March 2009
In March, passenger capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was 0.9% above March 2008. Traffic, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, fell by 7.3%. This resulted in a passenger load factor decrease of 6.4%, versus last year, to 72.7%. Traffic comprised a 13.0% decrease in premium traffic and a 6.0% fall in non-premium traffic. Easter fell in March 2008 and April 2009. Cargo, measured in Cargo Tonne Kilometres, fell by 10.0%. (BA press release)
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Yorkshire airports expansion ‘could cost over 55,000 jobs’
Campaigners say expansion of 3 Yorkshire airports will cost the region's economy £2bn in lost tourism revenue and tourism jobs. FoE say increased traffic from the airports will mean money will be spent by UK residents overseas instead of in the region, and could prevent the creation of over 55,000 new tourism jobs in Yorkshire. They are calling on Councils to refuse expansion at Leeds Bradford, Doncaster and Humberberside airports. (Post)
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Doubts cast on biofuel benefits (road transport)
The push to use biofuels in place of petrol has done little to aid the development of the UK’s biofuel industry and may have produced more greenhouse gas than it has saved, according to a report. British biofuels are generally regarded as more environmentally sound than imports. UK’s use of biofuels may have increased emissions from road transport because growing crops for fuel means extra land must be pressed into service to grow food. (FT)
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Six dead in Indonesia cargo crash
SIX people were killed in a cargo plane crash in Indonesia. The Aviastar Mandiri BAe 146-300 aircraft was trying to land at the town of Wamena in Papua province. Wamena, like many towns in Indonesia, is largely cut off from the rest of the country so the plane was carrying essential supplies. Indonesia has one of Asia’s worst air safety records. The EU has banned all Indonesian-registered aircraft from its airspace. (Air Cargo News)
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‘Why would you use sea-air from Asia?’
Asia-Europe sea-air traffic is down 60% year-on-year on some lanes, due to air freight rates dropping to an all-time low. Asia-Europe rates of around HK$14-17/kg were now normal "for decent-sized loads". Another said HK$10/kg – including surcharges – was common from China and Hong Kong for loads of 2-3 tonnes or more. It is cheaper right now in some areas to go by pure air than by sea-air. (IFW)
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Gloucestershire airport is held to ransom
The airport was plunged into darkness as Plane Stupid campaigners stole photovoltaic lights in protest against a new green policy. They took the lights to ransom until the airport becomes more eco-friendly. They said the lights highlight the stupidity of the council’s position - the idea that fitting eco-friendly lights at the airport can offset the huge environmental damage the planes will cause is an insult to people who care about climate.
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Downturn ‘hits regional airports’
Some regional airports could struggle to survive the recession because of falling passenger numbers, the Airport Operators Assoc warns. Its figures suggest overall traffic in March 2009 was down 15%, with passenger numbers reduced by 70% at Blackpool Airport and 50% at Durham Tees Valley. The Air Transport Users Council believes passengers will be targeted with more charges. The AOA said the government should step in to help small airports. (BBC)
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Hoon held Madrid talks to ‘build bridges’ over BAA row
Geoff Hoon flew to Madrid for talks with Ferrovial after they complained about Britain's competition watchdog. Ferrovial, the parent company of BAA, was so angry at the actions of the Competition Commission, which is forcing it to sell off several UK airports, that talks were held with Britain's ambassador in Spain, Denise Holt. Shortly afterwards the Transport Secretary agreed to travel to Madrid on a mission to "build bridges". (Standard)
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Who was in the loop over Heathrow?
As opponents of the third Heathrow runway launch a legal challenge, they are asking why the government consulted on one set of proposals and then did something different. Why did ministers consult on a fully operational runway and agree one that could well operate at half capacity? Why did they claim to have honoured their environmental pledges and then introduce a new set of pledges? Who was in the loop when all this was agreed? (Guardian comment)
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Arctic ice shows winter thinning
Arctic ice reached a larger maximum area this winter than in the last few years, scientists say, but the long-term trend still shows it declining. The 30-year trend shows the maximum annual sea-ice cover, usually seen in March, is shrinking by 2.7% per decade. Only 10% of the cover consists of relatively durable ice that has formed over more than 2 years, a record low. The thin ice is prone to summer melting. (BBC)
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Tesco’s ‘flights for lights’ promotion – every little hurts
Tesco have managed the ultimate in greenwash. Getting airmiles for flights from points gained from buying low energy light bulbs. "Tesco chief executive Terry Leahy is now offering air miles when you buy a low energy lightbulb. What next? Free packet of 20 Benson & Hedges with every Nicorette patch? A dozen king-size Mars bars with each box of Ryvita? ...Giving away air miles to incentivise the lightbulb swap beggars belief." (Guardian green living blog)
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Legal challenge launched against Government’s decision to back Heathrow 3rd runway
A coalition representing millions of people has launched a legal challenge against the Government over its decision to give BAA permission to draw up detailed plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. The coalition includes residents' organisations NoTRAG and HACAN, 7 local councils and 4 leading green groups. The key points of the challenge are on noise targets, EU legal limits on air pollution, carbon emissions and need for a fresh consultation.
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Legal Challenge to Heathrow runway plan
A legal appeal is to be launched by councils opposed to the decision to approve a 3rd runway. At the High Court the 2M group, which represents 23 local authorities, will apply for a judicial review of the government's approval of the expansion. The local authorities will argue that Transport Minister Geoff Hoon arrived at his decision on a potentially half-capacity 3rd runway, which was different to the fully-operational runway in the consultation. (BBC)
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Airline group backs global emissions trading scheme
Four top airlines (BA, Air France, Cathay Pacific and Virgin Atlantic, have backed a global scheme to curb carbon emissions and hope the proposal will be included in a broader U.N. pact to fight climate change. It is the first time airlines have banded together to make recommendations to UN climate change officials on how to tackle the sector's CO2. Many airlines say only a global approach is fair. A UN body should administer the system. (Reuters)
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Coming in for a landing, airlines say bio-fuels cut pollution
The airline industry is looking to start using bio-fuels within the next few years and hopes for certification by as early as 2010. Boeing’s Bill Glover expected bio-fuels to achieve "commercial availability in 3 - 5 years, although critics have said this will raise food prices. Executives said they were aiming to use second- generation bio-fuels, including some derived from algae, so as to not drain food and water resources. (New Europe)
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Climate warning as Antarctic ice bridge shatters
An ice bridge which held a vast Antarctic ice shelf in place has shattered and could herald a wider collapse linked to global warming, a leading scientist has warned. A satellite picture from the European Space Agency showed that a 25 mile-long strip of ice believed to pin the Wilkins Ice Shelf in place had splintered at its narrowest point, about 500 metres wide. The Wilkins is one of 10 Antarctic shelves to have shrunk or collapsed in recent years. (Indy)
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Whitehall demanded BAA probe
Whitehall officials asked Merrill Lynch to investigate the "robustness" of BAA’s finances before Christmas after a slump in its bonds. The Merrill Lynch report, revealed under FoI, also covered Ferrovial. Disclosure of official concern over BAA’s finances will add to City fears over BAA and increase speculation that it may need to raise fresh debt or equity. Some transport experts believe the group may struggle to fund a 3rd runway. (Sunday Times)
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Air Industry Chiefs Call For Global Emissions Deal
Aviation leaders at an "Aviation and Environment" conference have called for a global carbon emissions scheme for their industry, arguing an emerging patchwork of regional and national systems could bring more, not less, environmental damage. The call, from the industry, was twinned with a pledge to push ahead rapidly to achieve widespread use of biofuels on commercial flights. They want ICAO to shape a global sectoral approach. (Planet Ark)
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UK airports mail tonnage figures for recent years
Figures for mail tonnage, for UK airports (CAA data)
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Birmingham Airport plan prepares for take-off – 400m extension allowed
Controversial plans to extend the runway at Birmingham finally got the go-ahead from Solihull Council. Birmingham Airport had to resubmit its proposed Section 106 agreement, which explained how it planned to counteract noise pollution and to protect the environment. The planning committee approved the 400-metre extension in December - subject to the amended guarantees now agreed. Expansion will enable bigger jets to fly non-stop to long-haul destinations. (B'ham Post)
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Activists Adopt-a-Resident in Sipson to beat the bulldozers
Activists from around Britain came to Harmondsworth to launch a scheme to Adopt-a-Resident under threat from the proposed Heathrow expansion. If needed, activists have pledged to stand together with their adopted residents and fight attempts to remove them from their homes. As the residents gathered in the local church hall, they were each given a raffle ticket and were matched with an activist, whose matching raffle ticket was drawn from a hat. (NoTRAG)
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A Risky Business: Government spin plan over Heathrow revealed
The DfT produced a "risk register" for plans for Heathrow. It was produced by civil servants, with the task of getting approval for a 3rd runway. Greenpeace managed to get hold of it, and it reveals a lot of interesting stuff. The Government were / are very worried about losing the economic and environmental arguments over Heathrow. They are also very bothered about direct action, both because it could delay progress and it is enbarrassing. (Greenpeace)
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Why did airport boss receive huge bonus? (Newcastle)
Demands have been made for an investigation into how Newcastle Airport’s ex-chief executive was allowed to claim a bonus worth more than £2m. John Parkin’s legal battle with Newcastle International has seen his original £6.3m payout reduced by £4m – but at a cost of around £2m. The Council own 51% of the airport and finally persuaded Mr Parkin to hand back some of his bonus. It was for successfully refinancing the airport’s debt. (Journal)
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Rural communities complain of ‘airport blight’ as flights increase
Rural communities are complaining that their lives are being blighted by the increasing number of flights at small airfields. The surge has led to complaints of excessive noise from residents who say their quiet idyll has been disturbed. This is because the 2003 ATWP recommended that traffic at smaller airfields increase to take pressure of larger airports in the South East. Wycombe Air Park now has nearly 100,000 air movements a year. (Telegraph)
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Heathrow third runway plan hits new snag
The proposed 3rd runway at Heathrow has been dealt a serious blow after a government document warned that airport group BAA cannot lodge a planning application for the project before the next general election. BAA is not expected to seek planning permission for a 3rd runway until 2012. The last possible date for an election is June 2010 and BAA's best hope for expanding Heathrow is to submit an application before then. (Guardian)
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Whitehall met aviation chiefs over Heathrow third runway
DfT civil servants repeatedly met aviation industry chiefs in advance of the decision to back a 3rd runway, though they told environmental groups there was a blanket ban on meetings with any external bodies. The disclosure comes in documents the civil service was directed to release to Greenpeace by the information commissioner after stonewalling by civil servants. The threat of disruption was seen as one of the highest risk threats to the runway. (Guardian)
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Campaigners ask government to take control of air traffic at Wycombe Air Park
Noise pollution campaigners have asked the government to step in and take direct control of air traffic at Wycombe Air Park. Wycombe Air Park Action Group, which was formed last year by residents angry about noisy planes, has lodged an application with Geoff Hoon for the DfT for 'specification’ of the air park in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act. If successful air traffic from the site will be regulated by the DfT and CAA. (Bucks free press)
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Margo wants Edinburgh and Glasgow airports to work together
MSP Margo MacDonald is urging closer co-operation between Edinburgh and Glasgow airports as an alternative to the Competition Commission's demand that one of them should be sold off. She claims it makes more strategic sense for the two Central Belt airports to work together than to compete. They could share the different types of traffic between them – freight, holidays, short-haul, long-haul – or each could concentrate on one kind of work. (Edinburgh Evening News)
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Children Stage Rally at Parliament against Heathrow Expansion
Hundreds of people, many of them children dressed up as endangered species, took part in a rally, organised by "WeCAN", opposite the Houses of Parliament. The rally was addressed by a number of high-profile speakers including Colin Challen MP and Zac Goldsmith. Amongst the children who took part were pupils from Heathrow Primary School which would be demolished if a 3rd runway went ahead. The children then went into Parliament to lobby their MPs.
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FedEx Plane Explodes on Landing in Tokyo
A FedEx cargo plane burst into flames after bouncing off a runway in unusually high winds at Tokyo's main international airport Monday, killing the pilot and copilot and closing a major runway for several hours. Kyodo News said it was the first fatal aircraft accident at Narita Airport since it opened in 1978. the aircraft was carrying a flammable liquid onboard, but had no other details. Unusually strong winds of up to about 47 mph were blowing. (Fox)
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The mother of all rallies against bigger Heathrow
Novelists, film-makers and actresses are taking their children to Parliament to demonstrate against Heathrow expansion and coal-fired power stations. The rally has been organised by climate change campaign group WeCAN, made up mostly of mothers. It will be attended by pupils from Sipson, whose primary school will be demolished if plans for the third runway go ahead. WeCAN hope it will force the Government to take tougher action on climate. (Standard)
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Plane Stupid Scotland: four arrested over peaceful banner drop
4 activists from Plane Stupid Scotland were arrested after a peaceful banner drop near Edinburgh airport. After dropping a banner reading 'Airport expansion is stupid' from the 4th story of a car park opposite the terminal building they were taken to a police station and charged with Breach of the Peace. They were to appear in court, but the case was thrown out before the court opened. (PS)
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BAA airports sell-off: Companies in the running
BAA has been given 2 years to sell three airports, due to the current economic difficulties. It is likely Stansted will be looked at by any shortlisted bidder that does not win control of Gatwick. The groups likely to be interested are Manchester Airports Group and the Borealis pension fund; investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners; and a consortium including Vancouver Airport and Citigroup bank, Hochtief and 3i. (Guardian)
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Flash mob held to praise rail over air travel
Campaigners against Heathrow expansion staged a Flash Mob with a difference at the Euro Star terminal in St Pancras. The campaigners unveiled their red t-shirts, emblazoned with the words ‘Stop Airport Expansion’, and held up signs saying "Rail – Not Stupid" and burst into song - singing the praises of rail, with EuroStar trains in the background. This ties in with the climate change film, The Age of Stupid, which is going on general release.
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Ryanair aiming for 1m passengers from Manchester in 2009
Ryanair hopes to carry 1 million passengers from Manchester for the first time in 2009 by adding new routes and increasing frequency on others. It will need to achieve a 57% increase on the 634,000 it carried in 2008 if the target is to be achieved. A spokesperson refused to discuss what and how many routes would be added. (Crains)
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BAA forced to sell Stansted – death knell for a 2nd runway?
Today’s news from the Competition Commission that BAA must sell Stansted is expected to sound the death knell for the proposed 2nd runway at the Essex airport, which would have made it bigger than today’s Heathrow. BAA has been given 2 years to sell Gatwick, Stansted, and then either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports – in that order. Importantly, the Commission will not insist on any new buyer of Stansted taking forward BAA’s second runway proposals. (SSE)
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