Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
£1bn Gatwick Airport revamp starts take-off including runway upgrade
Date added: 6 November, 2010
Gatwick is inviting tenders for the upgrade of the main runway, which forms a
key part of the airport’s £1bn overhaul. GIP expects to spend around £40m over the next 2 years completely rebuilding the
runway system and fitting new ground lighting. More than 70,000 tonnes of blacktop needs to be laid to resurface the runway
and linking taxiways. Construction work is due to start next autumn and is expected to be completed
by the end of 2013.
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Jet2 win court injunction against Blackpool airport so it has to stay open after 9pm
Date added: 5 November, 2010
Holiday flights were to have been diverted away from Blackpool Airport as a row
with Jet2.com escalated. The airline had been told that all flights due to arrive
after 9pm would have to find somewhere else to land. as staff could not be paid
to stay late. A high court decision has now reversed this. The airport is due
to lose £2.7m this year and could be ready to shed 85 jobs. It was no longer prepared
to provide ground staff for late night Jet2 services.
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New research reveals sky-high noise levels from London City Airport – worse than living near Heathrow
Date added: 1 November, 2010
Research carried out by Fight the Flights in alliance with UCL and London 21's
Mapping For Change has shown that some residents living under London City Airport
flight paths are experiencing noise levels much higher than people under the Heathrow
flight path in West London. Residents found sound readings from 35 - 87 decibels
(87 is worse than in Kew Gardens). Readings taken during the volcanic ash period
in April prove the extent of the noise due to planes.Fight the Flights starts
its legal challenge on 18th November.
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Manston (Kent) night flight plans grounded by Thanet Council – consultation delayed
Date added: 1 November, 2010
Plans for night flights at Manston have been put on hold. Following a meeting with senior Thanet council officials, Infratil has agreed to revise a proposal to allow planes to take off and land 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with an average of 8 aircraft movements every night,most in the so-called "shoulder" periods of 11pm-11.30pm and 6am-7am. A planned public consultation, due to start this month, will not take place until there are clarifications.
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Birmingham Airport spreads its wings as “powerful driver of growth and jobs” … (Kehoe)
Date added: 31 October, 2010
Paul Kehoe continues to claim Birmingham Airport could be "London's new airport"
and with HS2 cutting journey times from London, and a new runway extension, the
airport will be booming. He says the airport is currently operating at around
half its current capacity and is a "vital yet underused piece in the National
Strategic infrastructure." He hopes to get the 400m runway extension built by
2014 even involving moving the A45. A lot of puff ....
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Southend Airport hotel given planning permission by Southend
Date added: 29 October, 2010
Southend Borough Council has approved plans by Southend Airport for the development
of a 129 bedroom hotel at the airport. It will be on land adjacent to the Harp House Roundabout and will provide for (they hope)
air passengers as well as local businesses. It will have 3-star facilities and
a separate 5-star executive floor with twelve suites. Also restaurant and bar
areas and conference / meeting facilities - and a separate restaurant on the top
floor
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Manston / Ramsgate residents rally on night flights at public meeting
Date added: 29 October, 2010
Residents against Infratil's plans for regular night flights at Manston airport made their anger felt at the 1st public meeting on the issue. The packed meeting gave people the chance to air their views. The application was made in September to Thanet council. The meeting was chaired by Ramsgate mayor David Green, and speakers were Kim Gibson of the Ramsgate Alliance of Residents' Associations and Susan Kennedy of the No to Night Flights campaign.
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PM rules out Thames Estuary airport plan
Date added: 27 October, 2010
The government has ruled out proposals to build a major airport in the Thames
Estuary or Kent to increase flight capacity for London. The Prime Minister told the House of Commons the government had no plans to construct
a new airport in the area. Mayor of London Boris Johnson has been considering plans for a new airport in
Kent and the Thames Estuary, and wants to increase flight capacity around London without expanding Heathrow.
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Anger over revised plans for airport on Hoo peninsula
Date added: 25 October, 2010
Campaigners against a new airport in Kent have expressed anger that 7 years after
winning a fight against the plan it is now being reconsidered. A review by Boris Johnson is to look at the option of developing the proposed
site at Cliffe. Back in December 2003, the government decided to leave Cliffe
out of its airport expansion plans. In summer it is an important breeding ground
for birds such as avocets, marsh harriers, Mediterranean gulls and little terns.
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Mayor considers Hoo peninsula in Kent as Thames Estuary airport option
Date added: 24 October, 2010
A proposal to build a major airport on the Hoo peninsula is one of several options
being considered by the Boris Johnson. He wants to increase flight capacity around
London without expanding Heathrow, and has also been considering an airport in
the Thames Estuary. A spokesperson for the Mayor said it was "vital that a location
for extra runway capacity was found for London to remain one of the leading world
cities." Bird strike would be a real problem.
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