Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Heathrow residents say peace is blissful
While having sympathy for stranded travellers, residents under Heathrow flight paths described the clear skies as "bliss". A Hayes resident said "I can't describe how blissful it's been," he said. "It's like another world." The contrast has allowed people to realise how noisy the planes are, and how much they have missed peace and quiet. There have been thousands of comments and Twitter tweets about people enjoying several nights of undisturbed sleep.
Click here to view full story...
Further breaches at Leeds Bradford airport ‘won’t be tolerated’ by council
Leeds Bradford airport is being warned that further breaches of night-flight rules will not be tolerated. Leeds planners have agreed to formally warn Leeds-the airport after considering a report which detailed 32 incidents over the past year when aircraft have breached the deadline. The vast majority involved Pakistan International Airlines and its predecessor Shaheen Airlines. The council wants a firm timetable for tackling the problem. (T & A)
Click here to view full story...
Inverness Airport set for longer opening time for night mail
Inverness Airport will extend its opening hours to allow night flying if it wins a major contract for mail deliveries. Post for the Highlands and Moray is currently flown to RAF Kinloss, but the base’s contract for the service expires next year. Highlands and Islands Airports Limited is keen to clinch a deal with Royal Mail. It would mean the airport, which now shuts at 9.30pm, staying open during the early hours of the morning when mail flights arrive. (P & J)
Click here to view full story...
“Gatwick Can Be Quieter” issues an election challenge
The new local group at Gatwick, "Gatwick Can Be Quieter" has put out a challenge to the prospective parliamentary candidates near the airport to say what they will do to reduce the impacts of aviation, and its expected growth. They particularly want to get answers from candidates on making the polluter pay, controlling spirallying aviation growth, and phasing out older, inefficient and noisier aircraft.
Click here to view full story...
Leeds Bradford Airport under scrutiny over late-night flying
Councillors will this week consider a report which details 32 breaches of planning rules (7 between Nov 2009 and Feb 2010) over noisy night-time flying at Leeds Bradford International Airport. A late-running Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flight to Islamabad has created all the breaches in the rules, which operate to reducenight flying between 11pm-7am. (Guardian)
Click here to view full story...
Lydd highlights battle between airport expansion and eco-concerns
The vote by Shepway councillors to approve the expansion proposals has hardened battle lines. Climate-change campaigners and environmentalists defending wildlife sanctuaries now confront flying enthusiasts and those eager to bring jobs to an area with few large employers. The Sec of State at DCLG is due to decide on 11th June on a public inquiry. Current policy is to use existing landing capacity wherever possible before building Boris Island. (Guardian)
Click here to view full story...
Birmingham airport should come clean over expansion aspirations
The runway extension planned for Birmingham will not be built for 5 years at least. But it is still not clear who will pay for it, and for associated road improvements. Birmingham and Solihull councils have both offered to pay £16 million of public money for this. Details remain private. Expansion of the airport goes against UK climate targets and guidance from the CCC in December. FoE are asking that the airport makes details of its plans public. (FOE)
Click here to view full story...
Eddie Stobart to take to the skies from Southend
Stobart bought Southend airport 3 years ago in a £21m deal. Although it is currently a hub for aircraft maintenance and private business jets, a partnership between Stobart and a European airline could transform Southend. Stobart hopes to carry 2m passengers a year to and from North Africa and southern Europe in time for the start of the Olympics in 2012. It is suggested planes with Stobart livery might each be given a girl's name, like the trucks.
Click here to view full story...
Obstacles pile up for Birmingham Airport runway extension
Birmingham's campaign to market itself as Heathrow’s 3rd runway could turn into a money-spinner, but only if legal difficulties can be resolved. BIA has already said the business case for the extension doesn’t stack up in the current straitened circumstances and is resisting Birmingham City Council’s insistence that a longer runway, allowing non-stop flights to China, India and the west coast of America, must proceed immediately. (Birmingham Post)
Click here to view full story...
Edinburgh airport’s tree project is trampled by its carbon elephants
Edinburgh has almost tripled the number of passengers in the past 15 years. It is one of the UK's fastest growing airports. It is paying for 500 trees to be planted. The airport is making "every effort" to cut airport emissions, consistent with ensuring the departure lounge can up its throughput of passengers from the current 9 million to 14 million by 2013. Anything, it seems, to avoid discussing the elephants on their runways. (Fred Pearce)