Edinburgh airport publishes draft Master Plan for high growth out to 2050 for consultation, but no 2nd runway plan
Date added: 13 November, 2016
Edinburgh Airport has produced a draft master plan for consultation (deadline for comment is 23rd December) about its future development up to 2050. The airport says “The Masterplan highlights how we aim to grow and develop the airport responsibly over a 25 year period whilst improving the experience” ….benefits to the economy etc etc.” It plans to increase its passenger number from about 11.1 million in 2015, to 19.2 million in 2030, and 35 million in 2050. It will continue to safeguard land for a possible 2nd runway, if there is enough demand after 2040 if there are 30 million passengers by then. The numbers of passengers and ATMs in the current master plan are much higher than in the 2011 plan (eg. 2011 plan anticipated about 200,000 ATMs by 2040, but the 2016 plan expects 208,000. For passengers, the 2011 plan anticipated 20.5 million passengers in 2040, but the 2016 plan expects 25.8 million.) There is little on noise to encourage those already negatively affected by the airport’s flight paths. It says it has a noise action plan that “sets out the actions we propose to take to manage and, where possible, minimise aircraft-related noise at Edinburgh Airport.” But “as long as people want to fly, there will be noise from aircraft landing and taking off.” Local groups Transform Scotland, the campaign for sustainable transport, and Edinburgh Airport Watch criticised the plans for yet further expansion, and the negative environment impacts.
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The Master Plan consultation documents can be viewed via the following link:
Masterplan response questionnaire (PDF format)
Masterplan (PDF format)
Edinburgh Airport expansion plans unveiled
12 November 2016
(BBC)
Plans for the expansion of Scotland’s busiest airport over the next quarter of a century have been unveiled. Master Plan details and consultation – consultation ends 23rd December.
Edinburgh Airport has launched a consultation, allowing the public to give their feedback on its “masterplan” for development from now until 2040.
The proposals centre around the growth of operations on the ground, rather than routes or planned changes to flight paths above the capital.
Environment campaigners have questioned the need for further expansion.
An enlarged terminal building and aircraft parking area are in the plans.
The scrapping of an existing contingency runway and the continued “safeguarding” of land for a new second runway are also proposed.
Over the last decade, the number of passengers travelling through Edinburgh Airport has increased by 20%.
Passenger numbers are predicted to rise by a further 18%, from 11.1 million last year to 13.1 million in 2020.
‘Realistic and responsible’
The existing terminal building and main runway were developed in 1977, a time when the airport had fewer than one million passengers per year.
The current masterplan sets out a development strategy for the “realistic and responsible” growth of the airport over the next 25 years.
A more speculative plan of development going up to 2050 has also been released.
The key proposals include expanding the terminal building, aircraft parking area and cargo storage facilities.
Plans to improve access to the airport are also suggested with the creation of a new road linking to the Gogar Roundabout.
The closure of the existing second runway, as its size means it is not suitable for frequent use, is also suggested, as is “the continued safeguarding of land for a new second runway”.
The document, however, adds: “This safeguarding is a long-term precaution only, as we believe that the future growth of the airport can be sustained by the current main runway only.”
The airport’s consultation on its proposals is open for six weeks.
A consultation on its airspace change programme (ACP) will take place next year.
‘Good for Scotland’
Gordon Dewar, Edinburgh Airport chief executive, said: “At Edinburgh Airport our passenger numbers have grown more in the past three years than they did in the 10 years previous.
“We’ve grown by one million passengers each year since 2012. We’ve grown our route network, serving more destinations and working with more airlines than ever.
“We believe that this growth is good for Scotland.”
He added: “This masterplan document sets out how we think we’ll grow in the decades to come and we’re asking some questions around that.
“Your views are important in making sure that our thinking is correct and that it fits with wider plans.”
The proposal for further expansion of the airport has been criticised by Transform Scotland, the campaign for sustainable transport.
Director Colin Howden said: “Aviation is the most polluting form of transport and one that threatens Scotland’s ability to meet its climate change commitments.
“The aviation industry thinks it should be allowed to expand without restraint and without regard for Scotland’s international commitments, instead expecting that other parts of the economy should bear the responsibility for cutting emissions while its growth is allowed to continue unfettered.”
Local campaigners Edinburgh Airport Watch added: “At peak times, its struggles to cope with passenger and traffic numbers now are already well documented – there is simply neither the demand nor the surface capacity to allow EAL to expand further.
“The cost of unfettered aviation expansion is poorer air quality, more noise misery for neighbours – some 20 miles or more from the runway – and a worsening of Scotland’s already enormous tourism deficit.”
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Airport master plan comes under fire
by Roy Beers (Linlithgow Gazette)
12 November 2016
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Opponents of attempts to expand Edinburgh Airport have dismissed a 51-page master plan for future development as “public relations spin”.
The group Edinburgh Airport Watch has also called on the Scottish Government to explain how it can reconcile ambitious emissions targets with a scheme it argues would greatly increase air pollution.
The newly-published master plan envisages creating a larger terminal building and developing infrastructure to meet a predicted rise in the number of passengers using the airport.
The strategy has been put out to consultation for the next six weeks.
In a related development Airport management claim a rich new seam of Chinese tourism could be within reach.
The master plan strategy to cover the next 25 years in what is claimed to be a “realistic and responsible” way, but also contains outline ambitions stretching 40 years into the future.
Its release follows figures showing that this October was the busiest ever for a Scottish airport, with nearly 1,130,000 passengers traveling through it, while this year will also be the first in which there have been more than a million passengers in each of seven months.
Opponents were still analysing the detail of the scheme on Saturday, but have already called on the Scottish Government to reject plans it says will drain tourism from Scotland and add to pollution.
Edinburgh Airport Watch spokeswoman Helena Paul said: “Really all we are seeing is an attempt by Edinburgh Airport to gain carte blanche approval to do anything they like.
“Our own survey shows they have been talking nonsense about flight paths – they have made life impossible in areas including Blackness.
“The earlier flight paths trial was a disaster, but we’re concerned people will think they’ve given up.
“They haven’t, and will be back to try and expand in a way designed to deliver profits to their shareholders any way they can”.
She argues that while the master plan is about expansion of facilities on the ground instead of the currently stalled bid to make major changes to flight patterns the two are closely inter-related.
Linlithgow MSP Fiona Hyslop has tried to freeze any bid to major move on flight patterns until a new regulatory body has been established, but has come under fire for appearing to back a line which would open up new routes in other areas.
A survey she carried out in her own constituency disclosed what appeared to be major local opposition to any significant change to the flight path patterns Edinburgh Airport says are out of date.
Helena Paul said: “Noise does not feature in the strategy document until chapter 6, along with scant references to air pollution – that is how much Edinburgh Airport cares about its neighbours and its impact on the environment.
“Most people do not fly frequently, yet more and more of us are now suffering from the negative impact of aviation, while gaining no benefit.”
http://www.linlithgowgazette.co.uk/news/local-news/airport-master-plan-comes-under-fire-1-4285892
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In 2015 there were around 107,200 flights using Edinburgh airport, and about 11,113,000 passengers.
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The 2016 draft Master Plan
Some extracts:
On the 2nd runway (not till after 2040):
The continued safeguarding of land for a new second runway. This safeguarding is a long-term precaution only, as we believe that the future growth of the airport can be sustained by the current main runway onlyWe now believe that it is unlikely that an additional runway is required before 2040. However, we believe that it is prudent to continue to safeguard land for it as a precaution.
A new runway, to the north of the current runway, would be “Required only to cater for traffic
greater than circa 59 ATM’s per hour or circa 30m annual pax.”
Land to the north of the existing airport boundary is safeguarded to provide a second main parallel runway, if required in the future, to meet air passenger growth forecasts. Within this area, green belt policy will apply (Policy Env 10). Proposals which would prejudice the long-term expansion of Edinburgh Airport will not be supported.
If it is decided that land to the north of the airport no longer requires to be safeguarded for a potential second runway, improvement works should be undertaken to complete the River Almond Core Path route between Hallyards and Cammo Road.
PSZs are the means by which airport operators identify areas where the risk of an aircraft accident, while extremely low, may be such as to merit some restrictions on the use of land. Edinburgh Airport’s PSZs for the main runway were updated in 2009.
Investment in airspace changes and on airport infrastructure changes will enable a
maximum of circa 56 ATM’s per hour to use Runway 06/24. This will delay the need for
a second parallel runway to sometime after 2040, if it is required at all.
Investment in airspace changes and on-airport infrastructure changes will enable a maximum of circa 56 – 59 ATM’s per hour to use Runway 06/24.
There are plans, by 2025, to add Rapid Exit Taxiways, in order to “reduce runway
occupancy time and maximise use of existing main runway. This assists in the deferral of a
new runway to the north.”
The airport plans to close their Contingency Runway 12/30 and withdraw it from operational service by 2025. Reason: “Other priorities for land use”.
Edinburgh airport says it might, by 2041 need to extend the runway, saying “Additional length (if operationally justified)”. There reason is “To enable greater aircraft take off weights and in doing so create further range capabilities from Edinburgh”.
Airspace
7.5 The airspace around Edinburgh Airport has remained largely unchanged since the
1970’s. Recently a consultation exercise has taken place to remove some of the arrival
/ departure restrictions to enhance runway capacity. Further consultation will be
undertaken in 2017.Runway 06/24 is capable of handling all but the largest aircraft. Runway 12/30 is short by modern standards and has no instrument landing equipment, generally restricting its use to smaller aircraft in periods of good visibility and cloud-base at night or during the day. Additionally, Runway 12/30 is not orientated to the prevailing wind, often rendering it undesirable from a “cross wind” perspective.
On Noise they say:6.21 For people living under flight paths or close to an airport, noise is a major concern and its effective management is an important part of Edinburgh Airport’s ability to deliver responsible development. Edinburgh Airport is a 24 hour operational airport and we take the issue of noise very seriously. However, as long as people want to fly, there will be noise from aircraft landing and taking off.
6.22 Noise has been a growing issue at the airport and we are currently consulting
on redrawing our flightpaths in order to balance growth and minimise the impact
on our surrounding communities.The CAA, the independent regulator of aviation in the UK, produces noise contour maps for Edinburgh Airport every five years. These contours measure the average noise at Edinburgh Airport over the busiest hours of the day and busiest months at the airport, using the dB Leq noise scale.
6.29 In accordance with the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006, which transposes the Environment Noise Directive into Scottish Law we have published a Noise
Action Plan, which is available online. The plan sets out the actions we propose to take to manage and, where possible, minimise aircraft-related noise at Edinburgh Airport.
6.30 Our Noise Action Plan will be updated in 2017. The Noise Action Plan enables us to develop our relationship with our communities and other key stakeholders, and to improve our understanding of residents’ concerns and priorities, so that we can take effective action in response. Each year we feedback our performance against the actions set out in the plan in our annual Corporate Responsibility Report, which is also available on our website.
The earlier Edinburgh Airport Master Plan in 2011
Master Plan – July 2011
Some Key Details at Edinburgh Master Plan
The airport Master Plan is for the next 30 years, up till 2040. They anticipate passenger numbers will grow from 9 million per annum now, to 12.3 million (central forecast) by 2020. (The central forecast in the 2006 Master Plan was 17.6 million by 2020). They anticipate 20.5 million passengers per year by 2040 (the central forecast in the 2006 Master Plan was 23 million by 2030). They expect 141,300 aircraft movements per year by 2020 and 200,600 per year by 2040. Cargo and mail might grow to 56,300 tonnes by 2020 and 81,900 tonnes per year by 2040. They do not anticipate “needing” a 2nd runway until 2040, but have plans to set aside land before 2040 for such a runway.
The Master Plan (50 pages) is at Master Plan
Draft Master Plan released January 2011
Edinburgh Airport pulls back on expansion plans
18th January 2011 Edinburgh airport has launched its draft Master Plan, with enormous growth forecasts, but slightly lower than previous estimates. BAA hopes passenger numbers will increase from 8.6 million in 2010 to 13 million by 2020 (it originally hoped by 2013) and to 20.5 million by 2040. And that air transport movements will grow from 100,592 in 2010 to 141,300 by 2020. BAA says no 2nd runway will be required, but it needs new aircraft hangars and stands.
Click here to view full story…Previous Master Plan (July 2006)
Key details of 2006 Master Plan:
Forecasts for passengers (millions)
Year Low Central High
2005 (Actual) 8.5
2013 11.9 12.7 13.7
2020 14.8 17.6 18.1
2030 18.8 23.0 26.0
Average Growth 3.2% 4.2% 4.5%
It predicted that in 2013, Edinburgh Airport will be handling between 12 and 14 million passengers per annum (mppa). Possible new runway after 2013.
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Posted: Sunday, November 13th, 2016. Filed in General News, News about Airports, Recent News.