Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Jet airliners could land at Dunsfold Park
Date added: 25 January, 2010
A warning that jet airliners could soon be landing at Dunsfold airfield has just
been issued by prospective Guildford Lib Dem MP Sue Doughty. She believes upgrades to bring in Boeing 737s and 757s for repair were already well on the
way. Dunsfold Park Ltd chief executive Jim McAllister said the company’s immediate
focus would be to progress the site’s underlying permanent aviation and business
consent following its failed bid to build 2,600 'green' homes.
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£5m redesign plans for Cardiff airport’s terminal
Date added: 23 January, 2010
The redesign, part of the airport's wider £15m investment strategy, has reached the planning stage and work could start later this year. Plans have been drawn up to extend the front of the terminal, link the arrivals and departures halls, and provide new food and retail services - to boost business. Better public transport to the airport is being investigated. However, improving the terminal alone is not going to bring the airport more business. (BBC)
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Stobart plans Southend airport expansion
Date added: 23 January, 2010
Stobart Group said it hoped the government would make a swift decision on its
plan to expand Southend airport after it received local council approval earlier
in the week. Stobart branched out into aviation in December 2008 by buying Southend
airport in a deal worth up to £21m. It envisages increasing the number of passengers
from 48,000 in 2008 to 2m in 2019. For this to happen, by extending the runway
to allow larger aircraft to take off and land. (FT)
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Cameron rules out Thames island airport
Date added: 22 January, 2010
David Cameron has effectively ruled out building a new airport in the Thames
Estuary. He said if elected to government in the election it would not be the policy to construct
the four-runway airport. He said the Tories don't want a 3rd runway at Heathrow
and can stop that from happening. They want rail to replace flights for those
trips for which it is a sensible option. Opponents in Kent are delighted by Cameron's
comment. (BBC)
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Heathrow Runway3 epetition – 10 Downing Street response
Date added: 22 January, 2010
10 Downing Street have given a bland and uninformative response. Says that the CCC report says that, even in the least optimistic case, the target can still
be achieved while allowing significant growth in air travel (CCC describes this
as a 60% growth in passenger numbers or a 54% growth in the number of flights).
A 3rd runway at Heathrow would account for about 10% more UK flights than we have
now, well within the 54% cap suggested by the CCC.
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Southend runway extension given go-ahead
Date added: 22 January, 2010
Go-ahead has been given for a 300 metre runway extension at Southend. The Development
Control Committee voted 14 to 3 in favour..but planners must now refer proposals
to the government before work can start. Secretary of State at DCLG, John Denham,
has claimed the right to a final say on the extension and may call for a public
inquiry. Campaigners are concerned about a rise in passenger numbers to 2m a year,
and that expansion will have an adverse impact on the Southend area. (BBC)
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Durham Tees Valley Airport continues damages claim
Date added: 21 January, 2010
Lawyers acting for Durham Tees Valley Airport will return to court next week as they seek to overturn a judge’s decision not to award the airport £12m damages for a claim against bmibaby. Peel – the company that owns the airport – yesterday confirmed it had been allocated a 2-day hearing on January 26 and 27 at the Court of Appeal in London to again contest its case about bmibaby’s decision to withdraw its flights from the airport in Nov 2006. (Echo)
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Oxford to gain Scottish air link to Edinburgh
Date added: 20 January, 2010
A start-up regional airline plans to run flights between Oxford and Edinburgh.
Flights by Varsity Express will be operated by 18-seat Jetstream 31 aircraft and will run daily on weekdays from March 1. Varsity will offer a business class style service, serving complimentary tea, coffee and water plus a small snack. They expect to carry 6,500 passengers in the 1st year in a mix of 55% business, 45% travelling on leisure. (TravelMole)
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A 3rd runway at Heathrow could lead to more domestic flights, the Government has admitted
Date added: 20 January, 2010
Ministers have encouraged travellers to opt for a train for domestic and short-haul
European trips. But in evidence to the Commons transport committee's inquiry into aviation, the
Department for Transport said a third runway could result in more flights to parts
of the UK. "Additional runway capacity would clearly provide more opportunity to cater for
demand for regional air services," it said. (Standard)
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BAA plans for 3rd Heathrow runway delayed — but is it too late for Sipson?
Date added: 20 January, 2010
BAA has confirmed it will not launch a public consultation on a planning application
until after the election. With expansion strongly opposed by the Conservatives who are ahead in the polls, any planning proposal could be quashed by a Tory
administration. Opponents remain cautious as even if the Tories win power they
could change their mind in the face of relentless lobbying from BAA and BA. "It's
like a slow death for Sipson," with up to 75 homes already bougth by BAA.
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