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No Airport Expansion! is a campaign group that aims to provide a rallying point for the many local groups campaigning against airport expansion projects throughout the UK.

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Airport News

Below are news items relating to specific airports

 

Southend Council wins order to evict Camp Cuckoo protesters

Date added: 18 March, 2010

Up to 17 members of Saxon King In Priory Park and Parklife are camping out on land by the roundabout, which the council is planning to clear to widen the road and have called for more people to join them. Southend Council has been granted an order to evict protesters from the camp. Many mature trees have already been felled to make way for road expansion, part of which is to ease access to the airport.

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Cardiff Airport passengers down 18% in 2009

Date added: 17 March, 2010

Statistics from the CAA reveal a slump in passengers that hit all UK airports last year, with 7.4% fewer passengers passing through their terminals. This was more than matched at Cardiff, where passenger figures were down more than 18%. Cardiff, which in 2007 was the fastest growing regional airport in the UK, saw 1.63 million passengers pass though its terminal, compared to 2.1 million in 2007. (UK Airport News)

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Heathrow braced for new night flights battle

Date added: 17 March, 2010

Ministers are preparing for a fresh battle over night flights at Heathrow which they fear could harden opposition to a 3rd runway. A consultation on a new night flights regime is due to take place this year. At present 2,550 take-offs or landings are allowed at Heathrow between 11.30pm and 6am during the 6-month winter season and 3,250 in the summer — about 16 a night. Campaigners fear ministers will attempt to pave the way for more night flights from 2012.

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Residents welcome Belfast City Airport public inquiry

Date added: 16 March, 2010

Local residents have welcomed the decision by Environment Minister, Edwin Poots, to hold a public inquiry into the the airport's runway extension proposal. Belfast City Airport Watch is delighted that the controversial proposal will now be subject to rigorous scrutiny. They fear the extended runway would mean "an international airport right on Belfast’s doorstep." Just days ago, the CAA submitted a damning report on the runway plan. (BCAW)

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Blow for bid to save homes from Manchester airport bulldozers

Date added: 14 March, 2010

Campaigners fighting plans by the airport to bulldoze 2 homes have been dealt a blow. They ditched a legal challenge after being told the case had a less than 50% chance of success – and consequently would not qualify for legal aid. They wanted a judicial review of a decision by Manchester council to allow two historic cottages on Hasty Lane, Ringway, to be demolished to make way for a cargo centre. Campaigners are now looking at other alternatives. (MEN)

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Heathrow local residents pledged to oppose high-speed rail unless 3rd runway is dropped

Date added: 11 March, 2010

Local residents around Heathrow, whose communities are threatened by the third runway, have pledged to oppose any high-speed rail schemes unless plans for the new runway are dropped.   The local campaigners,  No Third Runway Action Group say what they want is a high speed rail scheme that goes all the way to Scotland; a scheme that is designed to make it easy for people to use the train instead of the plane. The Government’s schemeonly has detailed plans for a route as far as Birmingham.  

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BAA keeps roof on with mortgages at Stansted

Date added: 10 March, 2010

Cash-strapped BAA has been forced to mortgage 39 houses near Stansted, many of which it is planning to demolish to make way for a planned second runway.  Their latest re turn shows that BAA has taken out mortgages with RBS on properties including Rose Cottage, and 2 Chestnut Way, Takeley. The houses are offered as security against  BAA's £10.5bn borrowings.  Some houses have been re-let.   Locals say it proves BAA could not afford a new runway.

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UK-to-US traffic down 10% in 2009; Heathrow’s share of market jumps from 60% to 75% in two years

Date added: 9 March, 2010

In 2009 there was a 10% fall in passengers on UK-US  routes, compared to 2008.     This was the lowest level since 1997 and a long way short of the 20 million which the growth in the market during the late 90s would have suggested. Only 14% of UK-US flights are from airports other than Gatwick and Heathrow. Heathrow’s share has leapt from 61% in 2007 to 70% in 2008 and 76% in 2009. Gatwick US flights fell by 31% in 2009. (anna aero)

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Varsity Express suspends Oxford to Edinburgh route

Date added: 8 March, 2010

"Varsity Express regrettably announce...the suspension of scheduled services on their Oxford to Edinburgh route.   The reason for this suspension is due to operational issues between Varsity Air Services Ltd and the airline and AOC holder who have been contracted to operate the Jetstream 31 type on our behalf and that was being used on the route. All further ticket sales have been suspended until further notice."    

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Manchester Airport ‘to be as busy as Heathrow’

Date added: 8 March, 2010

Manchester Airport will double the number of flights it handles and become as busy as Heathrow is today, the government has predicted.   According to the official forecast - in a report by the  DfT to the Committee on Climate Change -  there will be 449,000 take offs and landings at Manchester by 2050 – up from 213,000 in 2005. It would mean a flight taking off or landing on average every 70 seconds. The DfT predict Manchester will be the fastest growing of the 4 biggest UK  airports   and will overtake Gatwick to become the second busiest. By 2050, it is predicted to handle as many flights as Heathrow does now.

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