Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Westminster committee hears from Belfast residents on aircraft noise from Belfast City Airport
A committee of MPs at Westminster has been hearing from Belfast residents affected by aircraft noise linked to George Best Belfast City Airport. The umbrella residents group, Belfast City Airport Watch (BCAW), was invited to give evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster on 24th October as part of its inquiry into an air transport strategy for Northern Ireland. All three MPs whose constituencies are affected by the noise issue – Naomi Long MP, Alasdair McDonnell MP and Lady Sylvia Hermon MP – sit on the Committee and were present at the meeting. Dr Liz Fawcett, Chair of the BCAW Steering Group, said the group was very pleased with the reception it got from the MPs, and their interest in the issues. BCAW want the regulation of aircraft noise at the non-designated airports to be strengthened. The current proposals in the draft Aviation Policy Framework consultation do not go far enough. The consultation ends on 31st October. There is information on how to respond, and on the noise section in particular.
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Criticism by MP Stephen McPartland over Luton Airport application
An application to double to size of Luton Airport is expected soon, but there is fresh criticism of the plans. The MP for Stevenage, Stephen McPartland, has said he would continue to fight the expansion and criticised a motion passed last week by Stevenage Borough Council in favour of the expansion. He says that he, and the Comet newspaper, will continue to oppose expansion of the airport, due to the local aircraft noise nuisance and road traffic congestion. North Hertfordshire District Council has also now criticised the airport’s plans, and sent in comments against the expansion plans in its consultation response. There are also serious concerns about Luton Borough Council – which owns the airport – being the body that decides the outcome of the airport's planning application. A council spokesman gave this unconvincing response: “The council’s role as local planning authority is entirely separate to that as shareholder of London Luton Airport Ltd (LLAL). Each is run wholly independently of each other with their respective functions entirely separate."
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Update on the evictions and demolitions at Notre-Dame des Landes
Some 150 to 200 anti-capitalist protesters - some from other parts of France and of Europe - continue to try to delay and interfere with preparations for the start of work on the new Nantes airport at Notre-Dame des Landes. Some seven people have been arrested. They accuse the State of being the aggressors against them. Some said they had only thrown corn cobs and carrots at the police. About 10 houses have been pulled down. According to the prefecture, these squatter evictions are justified due to the imminence of the preparatory work for future road access to the airport, which should start in January. The work on the airport itself should begin in 2014 for commissioning in 2017.
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Another day. Another bonkers idea. A 4-runway Luton. Proposed by architects. Airport says it is unworkable
Why does the Evening Standard keep doing it? At least every week, there is another story about some sort of science-fiction type airport proposal. Barely thought through. Barely plausible. This time is the turn of Luton to have 4 runways proposed by a firm of architects, Weston Williamson - which seems to have mainly worked on railway stations in the past, in terms of transport projects. The scheme’s backers claim that, of the capital’s six airports, only Luton has good enough UK-wide links to make it a nationally accessible hub, next to the M1 and on the high-speed Midlands rail line to St Pancras as well the Thameslink route to central London and the south coast. A spokesperson for London Luton Airport Ltd, said: “We don’t think these plans are workable.The idea of a new airport immediately to the south of Luton was first raised in a 2002 masterplan which was subsequently found to be unrealistic, largely because of the cost and the site’s valley location." They were "setting themselves apart" from the proposal. The topography is not suitable.
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Gatwick 2nd runway – GACC explains the 10 key reasons why not
GACC - Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign - has set out clearly the reasons why a 2nd runway at Gatwick should not be built. First, the runway would be only 400 yards from homes in Crawley, with the airport boundary just 100 yards away. The noise and pollution for those residents can only be imagined. The impact of an airport the size of Heathrow at Gatwick would have immense consequences on the area, in terms of noise, large inward migration of labour, additional housing, the urbanisation of rural areas, not to mention loss of peace an quiet. The runway shown on the Gatwick airport plan is too close to the existing runway to allow space for a new terminal and for aircraft to manoeuvre safely on the ground. Gatwick can never accommodate 4 runways, which would be needed if a vast hub airport was regarded as necessary for the UK. The expansion of air travel on a scale to require new runways would be ruled out by the UK's climate change targets. The forecast expansion of aviation is largely due to aviation fuel not being taxed and air tickets not being subject to VAT (APD is small by comparison).
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4-runway mega-hub at Stansted airport proposed by “Make” architects
Plans for a new four-runway London mega-hub at Stansted capable of handling 150 million passengers a year have been unveiled. The plan is by architect Ken Shuttleworth, the architect behind the Gherkin in the City. The plans from his practice, "Make" Architects, would see Heathrow either entirely redeveloped or drastically reduced in size. They would involve building three new 4km-long runways at Stansted and creating a new Crossrail link from Stansted to Stratford, reducing train journey times to 25 minutes. The Norman Foster-designed 1991 main terminal building could also be transformed into a train station under the plans but full architectural details have yet to be revealed. Timescales and construction cost have also yet to be confirmed. Boris is in favour of this new Stansted hub, if he cannot get his Thames estuary airport.
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As many as 8,000 in Frankfurt airport protest to mark 1st anniversary of opening of 4th runway
On Sunday, a year after the opening of the 4th runway at Frankfurt airport, thousands protested peacefully against the increasing noise in the region. There may have been as many as 8,000 people there. On a bright autumn day they assembled by the fence next to the runway and showed their anger partly by making loud music. They are demanding planned construction of a new third airport terminal to be ceased. They are also demanding the closure of the 4th runway, and an extension of the ban on night flights from 22:00 and 06:00 in the morning. The government insist that the expansion of the airport provides opportunities for economic growth. However, they realise they have a real problem with aircraft noise and the extent of persistent citizen opposition. In the past week,three new measures had been adopted on noise, including an increase in the angle of approach and an increase in altitude. The protesters to not intend to give up their opposition.
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Heathrow complaints unit too busy to deal with complaints
Heathrow Airport's noise complaints unit are so inundated that they have given up providing individual responses to disgruntled residents. Someone who complained has this response from Heathrow: ‘Thank you for your email and I hope this finds you well. Unfortunately due to the high volume of complaints we are receiving at the moment, we are currently unable to provide detailed individual responses. We aspire to providing individual responses in future.” Complaints about BAA’s ‘operational freedoms trial – which allows the airport operator to use runways simultaneously under certain circumstances – are soaring in Hammersmith & Fulham, and elsewhere. Many have found that since July the incoming plane noise has been horrendous, and much worse than usual. BAA should not try to ignore this massive groundswell of opinion and residents need more detailed answers from BAA about what has gone wrong with their trial.
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Heathrow finds space for new flights to Mexico – and Alicante
The Telegraph writes that it has taken Aeromexico four years to get some slots at Heathrow, and makes out that this is because Heathrow is full etc etc. There are already 4 flights per week to Mexico, and these new flights will bring the total number to 7 per week. The Telegraph compares this to Paris with 14 and Madrid with 19. In reality, due to the BA link with Iberia, there are relatively few flights from Heathrow to south America, as they go via Madrid. Looking at Heathrow's website, and its new destinations, one could be forgiven for thinking the airport is only looking to attract tourists, as all its publicity about new destinations is about their tourism potential, and delightful things to go and see and experience. Not one word about their business potential, or the chances for business to drive UK exports. And Heathrow has found room for as many new flights per week to Alicante as there will be to Mexico. Driving UK exports via Alicante ? Really?
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Controversial Gatwick second runway could open within a decade and double travellers to 70 million a year as protesters vow to scupper the plan
A 2nd runway would double passenger number to around 70 million a year. Opponents of expansion, GACC, said: ‘We stand ready, if need be, to launch a massive campaign to defeat any new runway plan, as we have defeated such plans in the past. 'It would mean twice as many planes in the sky, twice the noise, twice the local pollution, twice the number of airport-related cars, and twice the climate change damage. Twice as many airport workers would need twice as many houses.' Gatwick serves 197 destinations compared with 163 destinations from Heathrow - largely holiday destinations. It is the UK’s largest short haul airport serving 145 destinations, excluding UK, compared with 73 destinations from Heathrow. It is the UK’s largest domestic airport serving 12 destinations compared with 7 destinations from Heathrow. A 1979 legal agreement with West Sussex Council prohibits Gatwick from constructing a new runway before 2019. Gatwick was sold in December 2009 for £1.5billion to the consortium Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).