Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Evening Standard EXCLUSIVE: ‘Dithering’ Cameron puts off Heathrow decision – with Commission
The Standard, desperate as ever to promote a 3rd Heathrow runway, reports that David Cameron has announced that an independent commission will decide the future of Heathrow - but only after the next general election. He has called for a cross-party deal to settle the alleged "crisis" (Standard's words) in aviation capacity in the South-East. The issue is too divisive to be carried through without support from the 3 parties. The former business chief Sir Howard Davies will be asked to head the commission and recommend in summer 2015 whether a third runway or a new airport is needed. Sir Howard Davis was head of the CBI and was a deputy governor of the Bank of England. Labour said it was “sceptical” about a 3rd runway, a word the Standard says is carefully chosen to keep all options open. Mayor Boris Johnson has sworn to oppose such a plan in a “sustained public campaign”. Cameron said “I’m hoping to make an announcement about this over the coming days".
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Boris Johnson’s Heathrow warning after Justine Greening’s move
The Mayor of London says the reshuffle shows the government wants to "ditch its promises and send yet more planes over central London". He said, of the removal of Justine Greening, that "There can be only one reason to move her - and that is to expand Heathrow" and that the idea was "mad" and he would fight it all the way. Boris said "The third runway would mean more traffic, more noise, more pollution - and a serious reduction in the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people. We will fight this all the way. Even if a third runway was built, it would not do the job of meeting Britain's needs." But he continued saying London needs a 4 runway airport, "preferably to the east of London" - ie. Thames Estuary. Boris said: "And it is time for the government to level with Londoners. Are they in favour of a third runway at Heathrow or not?"
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New independent commission to be set up to investigate airport growth
The Prime Minister has announced that there will be an independent airports review by a commission, on the issue of a third Heathrow runway, or a new south east airport. This is to have outside experts taking the controversial issue, rather than politicians. It is likely to have the effect of delaying any decision on Heathrow. The Chancellor has recently said: "We need more runway capacity in the southeast of England," and looking at where it should go: "let's examine all the options. Let's make sure we can try and create a political consensus." Other Conservatives want to avoid breaking a firm manifesto commitment for no 3rd runway, and do not believe it would actually help the UK's economy. The news of the commission comes as plans emerged for a £60 billion four-runway airport to the west of Heathrow - in Oxfordshire or Berkshire. A major feasibility study has been commissioned by a secret consortium of British businesses.
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Luton Airport’s revised master plan – with increased noise “the elephant in the room”
Luton Airport has today released its revised Master Plan for airport expansion, starting a 6-week public consultation. However, detail on the environmental impacts of the proposals is not going to be made available until the planning application is submitted in November. Local campaign group, HALE, commented that the owners and operators want to increase capacity to match Stansted and Manchester, even though Luton Airport is on a cramped site and surrounded by towns and villages. The proposals for expansion would result in 58% more flights than in 2011 – an average 160 extra flights per day. There would also be a longer morning ‘rush hour’ with flights every 90 seconds at peak times. The noise limits set are so high that they would have little effect, and the larger planes are likely to be more noisy than those currently using Luton. The noise insulation offered by the airport does not cure the problem.
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Janet Street-Porter: “Sorry, Boris, I don’t care about the size of your landing strip!”
Janet Street-Porter, writing with characteristic panache in the Mail, says airport expansion has become linked to masculinity with Tim Yeo and Boris Johnson telling Cameron to be a man on the matter of new runways/airports. Janet says asphalting over a big area on the edge of our precious Green Belt is not a good way to demonstrate manhood. So, asks Janet, what is it about men and planes? The aviation industry, like tobacco and alcohol, tirelessly promotes the idea of growth as a Good Idea. And Janet says she never believed the "rubbish about creating jobs — do they mean toilet cleaners, fast food operatives and duty free sales assistants?" Why are we so keen to copy China in building new airports, when we don't copy their one child per family rule, their unpleasant working conditions in factories, or their denial of free speech. So why should we fancy an airport in the Thames modelled on one in Shanghai?
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Independent on Sunday: Secret plan for 4-runway airport west of Heathrow
The Independent on Sunday reports that a British business consortium (that won't declare publicly who it is) is proposing a scheme for a 4-runway to the "west and north-west "of London, and the plans are to be submitted to the Government as a solution to the alleged aviation crisis that is dividing the coalition. This new airport could - the firm claims - rival, or even replace, Heathrow to challenge other European hubs in providing air links with the Far East (links which Heathrow can and does provide). Sites in Oxfordshire and Berkshire could potentially be in the frame for the airport, estimated to cost £40bn to £60bn. The "call for evidence" on airport capacity is due shortly, and could start this week. This new idea of a new airport to the west with road and rail links to the capital would be seen as a "wild card" capable of challenging the Thames Estuary airport idea backed by Boris. The IoS says the documents state: "...delivery of any scheme must have cross-party backing and must be supported by business and the workforce." The consortium of businesses behind the plan are expected to reveal themselves within weeks and is understood to have started talks with Chinese sovereign wealth funds.
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George Osborne says Heathrow 3rd runway is an option – William Hague confirms no change of Heathrow policy
George Osborne - talking on the Andrew Marr Show - said he has not ruled out a third runway at Heathrow airport to help boost growth He said more airport capacity was needed in the South East of England and "all options" should be considered. He added that new measures to speed up the planning process and underwrite spending on big infrastructure projects would also be announced shortly. George Osborne wants the government to seek cross-party agreement on airport expansion plans. This week Downing Street confirmed that the coalition has no plans to reverse policy on Heathrow. Foreign Secretary William Hague, speaking to Sky News on Sunday, also ruled out a change of policy. "The circumstances have not changed... it's important to stick to that election promise. It's important to make the right decision about this and study all the options. "We said very specifically we would not be (building a third runway)."
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£100m Manchester airport cargo centre ‘will ruin our homes’ say opponents
Residents living near the proposed site of a new £100m World Logistics Hub at Manchester Airport have objected to it saying it could ruin their local area, destroy the countryside and devalue their homes. The airport has submitted an outline planning application for the ‘world-class’ cargo centre, which will form part of the £650m Airport City project - and claims it will create more than 1,800 jobs. The plans are for multiple freight units with 1.4 million sq ft of warehouse space, with 24-hour operations, creating considerable noise and light pollution on the surrounding area. The centre will provide cargo space for freight companies, with access to air and motorway links. its construction could start by the end of 2012.
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Suffolk and Essex: MP Tim Yeo stands firm on Stansted expansion (cf. Heathrow)
Now here's a surprise. Tim Yeo, having got himself a not of (not all positive) publicity with his comments on the PM, a mouse, and a 3rd runway at Heathrow, has come under fire for his opposite stance on a shelved plan for expansion at Stansted. He says he remains opposed to a 2nd runway for Stansted. which lies close to his South Suffolk constituency. Tim Yeo appears not to understand that the ETS is not likely to stop aviation emissions from rising, though he is Chair of the Energy and Climate Change Committee. He claims the ETS will force airlines to use more environmentally friendly planes if they want to use new capacity at Heathrow (based on no evidence). Those wanting Stansted expansion are frustrated by Tim Yeo. Stansted currently cannot fill its existing runway, and has had shrinking passenger numbers for years. But an airport spokesman said "... there do appear to be some inconsistencies in Mr Yeo’s position"...
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Midlands MPs and business people say a 2nd runway at Birmingham would boost regional growth
A letter in the Telegraph, signed by 35 MPs and 41 business people from the Midlands area, backs the expansion of Birmingham airport. The letter says the Midlands needs global air links to emerging markets, rather than just having the national hub airport in the south of England. They say airports in the great industrial cities in the Midlands, such as Birmingham, have huge spare capacity. They also talk of Birmingham having a second runway, and with that its capacity could rise from the current 8.6 million passengers annually (in 2011) up to 50 million. They are calling on the Government to support expansion of Birmingham’s airport to maximise regional growth. Back in September 2007 the airport abandonned plans for a 2nd runway, saying it was not needed and there would be enough capacity for up to 27 million passengers per year up to 2030.