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Heathrow Airport

 

The Labour Government announced in January 2009 that they would allow a 3rd runway at Heathrow. 
 
HEATHROW  3rd  RUNWAY  PLANS NOW  DEAD
 
Plans for a 3rd runway were rejected by the Conservative - Liberal Democrat coalition government.  BAA also annouced that it is scrapping plans for a 3rd runway.
 
 

"Victory Against All The Odds"  – new book from HACAN on the successful Heathrow Campaign  Read the book.  (52 pages, pdf)    August 2010

A new book, written by the Chair of HACAN and of AirportWatch, John Stewart, has been launched to tie in with, and mark, the celebration in Sipson of the 28th August of the victory. The book outlines how the campaign to stop expansion at Heathrow, including a 3rd runway, was won.  It tells the tale of how a group of people took on the might of the aviation industry, international business and the UK Government and won.  It outlines the strategy and the tactics used.  It's an inspiring and a very human story.  But it also contains valuable lessons for campaigners wherever they live and whatever their cause.   22.8.2010 More .....
 

Legal challenge victory   26.3.2010

 

HEATHROW VICTORY!

 
New NEF report shows costs of Heathrow expansion hugely outweigh alleged economic benefits
 
 
The report:

Community groups opposing expansion

HACAN  

No Third Runway Action Group (NoTRAG)   

and Other Useful Websites

London Assembly report  "Flights of Fancy"  showing that noise and air pollution controls on a 3rd runway would be inadequate
Heathrow Noise Action Plan - consultation ended October 2009 
 
 
 
 
 
Heathrow - Judicial Review
 

GOVERNMENT’S HEATHROW EXPANSION PLANS IN TATTERS AS JUDGE SLAMS RUNWAY POLICY

The Government’s Heathrow policy is in tatters this morning after the High Court ruled that ministers' decision to give a green light to the proposed 3rd runway at Heathrow does not hold any weight. The judge dismissed the Government’s claims to the contrary as ‘untenable in law and common sense’. If the Government wants to pursue its plans for Heathrow expansion it must now go back to square one and reconsider the entire case for the runway. The implications of today’s ruling are profound, not just for Heathrow but for airport expansion plans across the UK. Lord Justice Carnwath ruled that the 2003 Air Transport White Paper – the foundation of expansion plans across the country - is obsolete because it is inconsistent with the Climate Change Act 2008.     26.3.2010  More .....
 
 
 
 
Legal challenge launched against Government's decision to back Heathrow 3rd runway  (at the High Court on 23rd February 2010)
 
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 3rd runway at Heathrow.  The coalition includes residents' organisations NoTRAG and HACAN, 7 local councils,  Greenpeace, RSPB, CPRE and WWF. The key points of the challenge will be:

-  That the UK risks breaching noise targets and the EU legal limits on air pollution;

-  That the decision will seriously undermine the Government’s efforts to meet its emissions target to tackle climate change;

 -  That the final plan the Government adopted was so different from the proposals it consulted on there should have been further consultation.

The coalition will argue that Transport Minister Geoff Hoon arrived at his decision on a potentially half-capacity third runway, which was different to the fully-operational runway in the consultation.   7.4.2009   More .....
 
 
 
 
 
 

The "saving on stacking" argument for the 3rd runway:

Proponents of a third runway often say it will save immense amount of carbon dioxide, due to the number of flights that will be able to land directly and not have to stack.  This is a fallacy. 
A third runway would generate over 120 times more CO2 than it saves through reduced stacking, each year.
 
 
 
 
BAA figures for passengers, air traffic movements and air freight tonnages.     BAA press releases
 
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for July 2010

Source: BAA press release for more details  (July 2010 compared to July 2009

Terminal Passengers:            Up +3.1% in July 2010 to 6,705,900 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:      Up + 2.9% to 41,438 ATMs
Air Cargo :                             Up  + 19.1% to 130,094 metric tonnes
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for June 2010

Source: BAA press release for more details  (June 2010 compared to June 2009)

Terminal Passengers:         down - 0.1% in June 2010 to 5,783,100 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:    down - 4.4% to 37,989 ATMs
Air Cargo :                         up  + 36.1% to 127,574 metric tonnes
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for May 2010
Source: BAA press release for more details  (many days of BA strikes)
                                                  (May 2010 compared to May 2009)
Terminal Passengers:         down - 3.1% in May 2010 to 5,255,800 passengers approx
Air Transport Movements:    down - 4.4% to 37,899 ATMs
Air Cargo :                          up  + 36.1% to 136,165 metric tonnes 
 
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for April 2010

Source: BAA press release for more details  (6 days closed airspace due to volcanic ash cloud)

Terminal Passengers:         down - 20.4% in Apr 2010 compared to Apr 2009
Air Transport Movements:    down - 19.7% in Apr 2010 compared to Apr 2009
Air Cargo :                          up  + 7.8% in Apr 2010 compared to Apr 2009
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for March 2010

Source: BAA press release for more details

Terminal Passengers:       up + 0.4% in Mar 2010 compared to Mar 2009 (BA strikes)
Air Transport Movements:    down - 6.5% in Mar 2010 compared to Mar 2009
Air Cargo :                        up  + 29.6% in Mar 2010 compared to Mar 2009
 
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for February 2010

Source: BAA press release for more details

Terminal Passengers:           up + 5.3% in Feb 2010 compared to Feb 2009
Air Transport Movements:      up  + 2.1% in Feb 2010 compared to Feb 2009
Air Cargo :                           up  + 24.1% in Feb 2010 compared to Feb 2009
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for January 2010

Source: BAA press release for more details

Terminal Passengers:           down - 0.5% in Jan 2010 compared to Jan 2009
Air Transport Movements:     down - 4.7% in Jan 2010 compared to Jan 2009
Air Cargo :                           Up + 14.8% in Jan 2010 compared to Jan 2009
 
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for all of 2009
compared to 2008
Source:   BAA press release  for more details 
 
Passengers:                       down -1.5%  in 2009 (65,907,900)
Air Transport Movements:    down - 2.8% in 2008  (460,026)
Air Freight:                         down  - 8.7% in 2008  (1,278,297 tonnes)
 
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for December 2009

Source: BAA press release for more details

Terminal Passengers:           Up +1.2% in Dec 2009 compared to Dec 2008.
Air Transport Movements:     down - 0.4% in Dec 2009 compared to Dec 2008.
Air Freight:                          Up +20.0% in Dec 2009 compared to Dec 2008
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for November 2009

Source: BAA press release for more details

Passengers:                        Up +1.1% in Nov 2009 compared to Nov 2008.
Air Transport Movements:     down - 1.8% in Nov 2009 compared to Nov 2008.
Air Freight:                          Up +4.9% in Nov 2009 compared to Nov 2008
 
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for October 2009

Source: BAA press release for more details

Passengers:                      Up +1.0% in Oct 2009 compared to Oct 2008.
Air Transport Movements:  down - 4.8% in Oct 2009 compared to Oct 2008.
Air Freight:                        Up 0.9% in Oct 2009 compared to Oct 2008
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for September 2009

Source: BAA press release for more details

Passengers:                     down - 0.3% in Sept 2009 compared to Sept 2008.
Air TransportMovements:   down - 5.0% in Sept 2009 compared to Sept 2008.
Air Freight:                        down - 6.2% in Sept 2009 compared to Sept 2008
 
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for August 2009
Source: BAA press release for more details
 
Passengers:                      up  + 0.3% in Aug 2009 compared to Aug 2008.
Air Transport Movements:  down - 3.0% in Aug 2009 compared to Aug 2008.
Air Freight:                        down - 7.4% in Aug 2009 compared to Aug 2008
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for July 2009
Source: BAA press release for more details
 
Passengers:                      up + 0.9% in July 2009 compared to July 2008.
Air Transport Movements:   down - 3.0% in July 2009 compared to July 2008.
Air Freight:                        down - 11.9% in July 2009 compared to July 2008
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for June 2009
Source: BAA press release for more details
 
Passengers:                      down - 3.1% in June 2009 compared to June 2008.
Air TransportMovements:    down - 2.4% in June 2009 compared to June 2008.
Air Freight:                        down - 14.5% in June 2009 compared to June 2008.
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for May 2009
Source: BAA press release for more details
 
Passengers:                      down - 3.9% in May 2009 compared to May 2008.
Air Transport Movements:   down - 2.9% in May 2009 compared to May 2008.
Air Freight:                        down - 19.2% in May 2009 compared to May 2008.
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for April 2009
(Easter was in April in 2009 but in March 2008)
Source: BAA press release for more details
 
Passengers:                       up + 2.6.% in April 2009 compared to April 2008.
Air Transport Movements:    down - 1.5% in April 2009 compared to April 2008.
Air Freight:                         down - 23% in April 2009 compared to April 2008.
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for March 2009
Source: BAA press release for more details
 
Passengers:                    down - 7.5% in March 2009 compared to March 2008.
Air Transport Movements:  up + 1.7% in March 2009 compared to March 2008.
Air Freight:                       down - 13.7% in March 2009 compared to March 2008.
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for February 2009
Source:  BAA press release for more details
 
Passengers:                     down - 9.5% in Feb 2009 compared to Feb 2008.
Air Transport Movements:  down - 7.9% in Feb 2009 compared to Feb 2008.
Air Freight:                        down - 17.9% in Feb 2009 compared to Feb 2008.
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for January 2009
Source:   BAA press release  for more details 
 
Passengers:                      down - 2.1% in Jan 2009 compared to Jan 2008.
Air Transport Movements:   down - 2.1% in Jan 2009 compared to  Jan 2008.
Air Freight:                        down - 12.1% in Jan 2009 compared to Jan 2008.
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for all of 2008
compared to 2007
Source:   BAA press release  for more details 
 
Passengers:                       down -1.4%  in 2008 (66,909,900)
Air Transport Movements:    down - 0.5% in 2008  (473,139)
Air Freight:                          up    + 6.6%  in 2008  (1,400,568 tonnes)
 
 
 
BAA figures for Heathrow for December 2008
Source:   BAA press release  for more details 
 
Passengers:                     down - 2.3% in Dec 2008 compared to  Dec 2007.
Air Transport Movements:  down - 2.3% in Dec 2008 compared to  Dec 2007.
Air Freight:                       down - 10.8% in Dec 2008 compared to Dec 2007.
 
 

 

Proportion of domestic passengers, out of total passengers

CAA statistics, annual figures  - comparing Tables 9 and 10.2

2006    8.9%
2007    8.5%
2008    8.3%

 
Business Aviation:  Number of business flights (= private jets) 
CAA statistics, annual figures - Table 3.1
 
2007      1,634   ( + 1,309 air taxis)
2008      1,935   ( + 973 air taxis)
 
 
Heathrow expansion:

The Labour Government wanted to expand Heathrow:
  • More planes on the existing runways buy abolishing runway alternation (the practice where planes landing over London switch runways at 3pm in order to give the residents in the boroughs closest to Heathrow a half day’s break from the noise). The number of flights using the airport would rise from 475,000 (last year) to at least 540,000 a year.
  • A 3rd runway and 6th terminal. Flight numbers would rise to over 700,000 a year. At least 700 homes would be destroyed, including the entire village of Sipson. At least 150,000 people would find themselves under the new flight path.
  • The consultation ended on 27th February 2008. 70,000 people responded to the consultation.
  • The proposals generated unprecedented opposition. The proposals have been criticised because of their impact on the environment and on people’s quality of life. But leading economic commentators also argue they are not required for economic reasons.
 
10 good reasons to stop Heathrow expansion:
 
  1. Heathrow is already Europe's largest airport [i]: adding a third runway will mean a 70 per cent[ii] increase in flight numbers and resulting rises in climate change pollution. It's crazy to be paving the way for such big increases in greenhouse gases when we should be doing all we can to reduce emissions.
  2. We'll miss our climate change targets: the plan for Heathrow is one of 20 airport expansion plans across the country. Scientists have warned us that allowing these to go ahead will significantly undermine the UK's ability to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and stop the worst effects of climate change.
  3. It's unnecessary: almost a quarter of flights from Heathrow are to destinations less than 500 km away and already well served by train[iii]. Substituting these flights for train services would reduce the need for extra capacity at Heathrow and have significant environmental benefits, as train travel does ten times less damage to the climate than flying[iv].
  4. The current growth in air travel has damaging effects on the UK economy: 67 per cent[v] of passengers traveling on flights from UK airports are UK residents. This means fewer people holidaying at home which is contributing to a £17 billion annual tourist deficit in the UK[vi].
  5. A third runway will cause 750 homes to be demolished: this means displacing thousands of people and removing an entire village - Sipson in the London Borough of Hillingdon.
  6. Building a third runway will mean more noise pollution across London and the South East: an extra 900 flights day will go overhead[vii].
  7. It will increase local levels of dangerous nitrous oxide (NOx) pollution: NOx is linked to increased instances of asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis and Heathrow is already in danger of breaching EU limits on NOx levels.
  8. British Airways is putting profit before the environment: along with others in the aviation industry, BA is denying the impact its industry is having on the climate and is pushing for a third runway at all cost.
  9. The aviation industry is dictating government policy: New Labour operates a revolving door with companies like BA and has allowed the industry to shape policies which have massive implications for the environment.
  10. Airport expansion is unpopular: 70 per cent of people in the UK are opposed to building bigger airports[viii].
[i] World Development Movement,, UK Airports and their CO2 emissions, press release, October 11th 2007  
[ii] Gillion Merron MP, Answer to Parliamentary Question, May 10th 2007 
[iii] HACAN, Short-Haul Flights: Clogging up Heathrow's Runways, 2006
[iv] DfT estimate that short haul air emits 0.15 kg/CO2 per passenger km. This multiplied by 2.7 (the IPCC's best estimate for the impact of radiative forcing) equals 0.405. Dft estimates rail on average emits 0.04 kg/CO2 per passenger km, approximately 10% of 0.405.
[v] Cairns et al, Predict and Decide: Aviation, Climate Change and UK Policy, Oxford Environmental Change Institute, 2006 p5  
[vi] Press Association (January 3, 2006) UK tourism deficit hits £17bn, business.guardian.co.uk 
[vii] Gillion Merron MP, Answer to Parliamentary Question, May 10th 2007
[viii] IPSOS MORI October 2007
 
         from Greenpeace.  http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/10-reasons-to-stop-heathrow-expansion
 
 
 
Also
Greenpeace  "Top 10 facts about airport expansion"
2 pages.   http://www.airplot.org.uk/toolkit/convince-people.pdf
 
 
 

Friends of the Earth have produced two briefings on Heathrow  (January 2009)

1. A full FoE briefing on why the Government must say no to expanding Heathrow: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/media_briefing/heathrow_no_to_expansion0.pdf 

2. A FoE briefing on the history of BAA's broken promises on Heathrow: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/media_briefing/heathrow_broken_promises.pdf


 

Websites:    For more information , see the websites of the following organisations:

HACAN  
Stop Heathrow Expansion  
No Third Runway Action Group (NoTRAG)    
2M - 2 million voices against Heathrow expansion (Wandsworth) 
Richmond Heathrow Campaign    
Chiswick Residents against  the spread of Heathrow (CrashW4)
Climate Rush
 
 

 

Several useful publications about Heathrow:


"Victory Against All The Odds"  – new book from HACAN on the successful Heathrow Campaign  Read the book.  (52 pages, pdf)    August 2010

A new book, written by the Chair of HACAN and of AirportWatch, John Stewart, has been launched to tie in with, and mark, the celebration in Sipson of the 28th August of the victory. The book outlines how the campaign to stop expansion at Heathrow, including a 3rd runway, was won.  It tells the tale of how a group of people took on the might of the aviation industry, international business and the UK Government and won.  It outlines the strategy and the tactics used.  It's an inspiring and a very human story.  But it also contains valuable lessons for campaigners wherever they live and whatever their cause.   22.8.2010 More .....
 
 
Heathrow Announcement - "Why the Government must say NO  to expansion"
Friends of the Earth briefing.  (5 pages, pdf).  January 2009.
 
The history of BAA's broken promises on Heathrow
Friends of the Earth briefing (5 pages, pdf).  January 2009. 
 

AEF Heathrow Briefing

The Aviation Environment Federation has produced a briefing:   Adding capacity at Heathrow Airport... and noise,air pollution and risk   (Dec 2007).

 
WHY HEATHROW AIRPORT IS SO CROWDED
The growth in transfer and transit passengers at Heathrow between 1992 and 2004.
 
Report by HACAN    (2005) 
A transfer passenger is a passenger who flies into Heathrow in one aircraft and departs in a second aircraft without breaking his or her journey.
A transit passenger is a passenger who flies into and departs from Heathrow in the same aircraft, which stops at Heathrow to pick up additional passengers and/or cargo; and/or to re-fuel.
Between 1992 and 2004, transfer and transit passengers at Heathrow increased from 9% to 35% of the total.
http://www.hacan.org.uk/resources/reports/hacan.transfers_and_transits.pdf
 
 
 
"Flaws Galore"   
To coincide with the end of the consultation on Heathrow expansion HACAN has published a new paper which attacks the Government’s economic case for expanding the airport.  The paper, entitled "Flaws Galore" compiled by AirportWatch's Aviation Economic Group, has identified over twenty serious flaws in the Government’s economic case.  (26.2.2008)  More .....
 
 
CE Delft study - "The Economics of Heathrow Expansion"
A major new report by independent economic consultants CE Delft undermines the economic case for expansion at Heathrow.  It challenges Government claims that its current proposals to expand Heathrow will benefit the economy by £5 billion. The CE Delft report argues the Government’s figures are based on flawed research which over-estimates the importance of aviation to the economy. (14.2.2008)  More .....
 The Economics of Heathrow Expansion 
Read the CE Delft press release and key points summary     and  One page summary
 
"Fallible Forecasts" 
- a critique of the 2007 air passenger forecasts.  A report by AirportWatch's Aviation Economics Group.  The new forecasts produced by the Department for Transport are shown to be unreliable. They depend on a series of questionable assumptions.  "Fallible Forecasts"   goes through forecasts for air traffic, for climate change damage and for the forecast net economic benefits of new runways at Heathrow and Stansted, and finds serious deficiencies in the Government's arguments.  (March 2008)
 
 

Heathrow: 2000 years of History

Second Edition
 by Philip Sherwood    at £14.99, paperback.  (Sept 2009)

The book recalls the earliest recorded human activity in the area over 2000 years ago. The author shows how the landscape of farmhouses, cottages, fields and gardens in this quiet corner of Middlesex was obliterated by the airport's expansion. Hangars, runways, roads, hotels, warehouses and terminal buildings now cover the countryside, and this continuous development has had a lasting effect on the lives of the local people. Again the history of Heathrow is being drawn sharply back into focus with the further proposed growth and new terminal.
 
From the first flight to the fifth terminal – the history of Britain’s most controversial airport.

Available from all good bookshops, Amazon.co.uk, www.thehistorypress.co.uk or phone the distributor (Marston Book Services) 01235 465577 for direct sales.
 
 
 

For news stories about Heathrow:

(see also the Latest News section of this website)  

and also  the Heathrow News page

 

Heathrow airport - some basic facts

 
HACAN produced a short briefing "Just Say NO!" containing a lot of useful information on the consultation   www.hacan.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

  
  
  

 

(6th November 2004)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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