Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Heathrow BA plane crash caused by ‘unknown’ ice fault
Click here to view full story...
New Gatwick owner rules out second runway
Sir David Rowlands, Chairman of the Board of Gatwick Airport, says a 2nd runway will not be considered any time in the foreseeable future, and "We at Gatwick have not a shred of interest in a 2nd runway. It’s not government policy and it’s not in our policy. Even if the Government started to look more favourably at the prospect, we would have to think very hard about spending £100 to £200 million on a planning application with an uncertain decision." (GACC)
Click here to view full story...
Manchester Airport protesters join forces with Sipson
Campaigners against the expansion of Manchester Airport have joined forces with Sipson, due for destruction if Heathrow gets a 3rd runway. A number of 200-year-old cottages would be demolished if the airport builds a new cargo unit. Residents held a tea party with Sipson village via video link on Sunday, and one is hoping to take the airport's proposals to a judicial review in a bid to stop the expansion. Manchester City passed the proposals in December. (BBC)
Click here to view full story...
Manchester Airport protesters join forces
Campaigners against the expansion of Manchester Airport have joined forces with Sipson, due for destruction if Heathrow gets a 3rd runway. A number of 200-year-old cottages would be demolished if the airport builds a new cargo unit. Residents held a tea party with Sipson village via video link on Sunday, and one is hoping to take the airport's proposals to a judicial review in a bid to stop the expansion. Manchester City passed the proposals in December. (BBC)
Click here to view full story...
Edinburgh to Oxford flights: Martin Halstead is back in the air
Martin Halstead’s Varsity Express will start flights from Oxford to Edinburgh next month. He would not disclose the identity of Varsity’s backers but they are understood to be a group of British businessmen with property interests in the Canary Islands. The flights — in an 18-seat Jetstream — will run only on weekdays. Halstead is looking at adding another route. (Times)
Click here to view full story...
Heathrow airport expansion cover-up
The DfT is facing a criminal investigation following a complaint that it deleted sensitive internal emails about the expansion of Heathrow. It is accused of disposing of emails to and from BAA, between Sept and Nov 2007 as the government prepared to push through its plans for a 3rd runway. The investigation unit of the Information Commissioner’s Office has asked to interview DfT civil servants about the apparent destruction of evidence. (Times)
Click here to view full story...
2M Group Urges European Environment Commissioner Dimas To Take Urgent Action Against Heathrow Pollution
The 2M group is warning that the UK Government could face daily fines after allowing air pollution at Heathrow to breach European limits. Ministers have so far taken no action to improve air quality of the area despite previously admitting that NOx levels around the airport were above permitted levels. They know they are breaking EU law and damaging the health of UK citizens yet they are still hell-bent on building a 3rd runway, which will increase pollution.
Click here to view full story...
Baboo plans to be first into London City with Embraer 190
Swiss carrier Baboo is aiming to be the 1st carrier to operate the Embraer 190 into London City Airport, with a service next week. BA CityFlyer and Lufthansa CityLine are also planning to introduce services with the type shortly. Baboo currently uses the Bombardier Q400 on the London City route. The Embraer 190 is now certified for the steep approach into City. They want to experiment with its potential. (Flightglobal)
Click here to view full story...
Abu Dhabi fund to take 15% Gatwick stake
The owners of Gatwick have sold another stake - about 15% - in the airport, this time to the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the world’s leading sovereign wealth funds. Earlier in the week, South Korea’s National Pension Service took a 12% stake in Gatwick. GIP plans to retain overall control. The spokesman declined to say precisely how much Adia had paid. (FT)
Click here to view full story...
Manchester Airport – Hasty Lane ‘Adopt a Resident’ Launch
The Stop Expansion at Manchester Airport group (SEMA) is holding an "Adopt a Resident" launch, like the scheme that already exists at Sipson (Heathrow), so that campaigners and residents can team up, in order to protect homes. The airport is planning to bulldoze homes on Hasty Lane, to expand the aiport's World Freight Centre - totally in contradiction to UK climate targets. (SEMA)