Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Stansted airport planning application to rent out surplus warehouses refused
SSE is delighted to report that members of Uttlesford District Council’s Development Control Committee voted unanimously to refuse BAA’s planning application for permission to rent its surplus warehouse space to all-comers. The Council could find no material reason for making an exception to its own longstanding policy of only permitting airport-related businesses to operate from within the Stansted Airport site. (SSE)
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New operator – Man for Cardiff to Anglesey air service
Isle of Man based Manx2.com with its partner FLM Aviation will resume the Cardiff-Anglesey service on Monday 10th May for 7 months. The Welsh Assembly government said a further tendering process will begin to appoint an operator for a 4-year contract. The Cardiff to Anglesey air link started in May 2007, with two flights a day both ways, attracting 40,000 passengers to date. The journey is a slow one by rail. (BBC)
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New owners agree deal to save Coventry Airport
A deal has been signed for Sir Peter Rigby to become the airport's new owner. Negotiations between the airport landowners Coventry City Council and Sir Peter’s aviation group Patriot Aerospace, have been ongoing for several months. He says his plans include resurrecting commercial flights from the airport and creating more jobs. He hopes for low cost flights to Europe, including scheduled flights. (Coventry Telegraph)
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Uttlesford Council wants to break its own rules to help BAA’s financial plight
Uttlesford District Council planning officials are recommending that Councillors approve a BAA planning application to allow it for the first time ever to rent 60,000 sq foot of Stansted Airport warehousing space to non airport-related tenants. BAA has asked for a lifting of the "airport-related" planning restriction for 7 years so that it is free to rent the airport warehouses on the wider local market. Opponents, including SSE, say the airport has an unfair advantage in having cheaper land through compulsory purchase.
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London City: Quiet sky raises Fight The Flights’ challenge to politicians
Residents across east and south east London who live beneath the flight paths of London City and Heathrow Airports were given 6 days of respite during the no flight ban due to the volcanic eruption. Residents have been monitoring noise levels as part of a project set up by Fight the Flights in alliance with UCL. The results, to be released next week, will compare the difference in noise levels between the flight ban and normal flight activity over the area.
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Birmingham Airport using the plane-free period to boost its runway hopes
Birmingham airport expansion supporters are using the 6 days without flights to boost their campaign to get the runway extension paid for. They claim the "extremist green lobby" are completely misguided and out of touch. It says "The time has come to redouble efforts to make sure Birmingham gets its runway extension". (Birmingham Post)
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Judge confirms Heathrow campaigners win in Court – and 60% of costs
Lord Justice Carnwarth confirmed the campaigners against Heathrow expansion scored a significant win in the High Court last month. In a short court hearing today to apportion costs the judge said "Frankly you are entitled to say you have won substantially." He ordered the DfT to pay their own costs plus 60% of the opponents’ costs. TfL was asked to pay its own costs. The DfT was also asked to sign an undertaking that it would carry out the terms of the judgment.
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£32m Birmingham Airport road scheme gets city council backing
Plans for a £32 million diversion of the A45 to allow the runway extension to be built have won Birmingham City Council’s backing. Council leaders agreed to pay half of the cost after seeking legal advice, though there had been questions whether the council had the powers to make a £16 million contribution to Solihull Council to get the A45 scheme off the ground. Lawyers said Birmingham could go ahead, and felt there were other transport benefits.
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Gatwick: Survey of ‘unexpected peace and quiet’
While having every sympathy for those stranded without flights, GACC is using the unanticipated closure of Gatwick as a scientific opportunity to test what the Surrey, Sussex and Kent environment would be like with much quieter aircraft. GACC will be conducting a survey of councils and environmental groups (around 100 are GACC members) to establish how much road traffic is related to the airport, and the contrast with the peace and quiet at present.
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Heathrow Runway 3 will leave UK £5 billion worse off – says new NEF report
The NEF has produced a new and comprehensive analysis, using Social Return on Investment, which shows that a 3rd runway at Heathrow would leave society worse off by £5 billion. The study used the same economic modelling programme as the DfT, but updated on economic growth rates, exchange rates, carbon prices, fuel prices etc. The £5 billion cost estimate includes negative impacts on the local community valued at £2.5 billion. DfT’s analysis put this at only £0.4 billion.