Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Birmingham International Airport sets out to lure flights from Heathrow
Birmingham chief executive Paul Kehoe has stepped up his campaign to lure passengers and flights from Heathrow by pointing out that BIA could handle twice as many passengers a year immediately without engaging in any costly reconstruction work. He said using Birmingham would be far more efficient than the proposal to build a new London airport in the Thames Estuary - and take the pressure off Heathrow by making more use of BIA. (B'ham Post)
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Government puts Gatwick expansion plans on hold
The Government has imposed an Article 14 Direction on Crawley Borough Council to prevent them giving planning permission to extend the North Terminal until the Government decides whether there should be a public inquiry. Crawley had unexpectedly brought forward a decision on the BAA planning application, and it was debated on 19 October. The Council were ‘minded to approve’ but prevented from giving the go-ahead.
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BAA to start buying up Sipson homes in runway demolition area
BAA has sent letters to all residents in the area that would be demolished for a 3rd runway to say that the company will buy properties ahead of announcing their intention to submit a planning application. This action has been taken following pressure on BAA to do something to address the problem of residents who are unable to sell their homes due to the third runway threat but whose personal circumstances mean they have a desperate need to move.
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Gatwick extension faces objection
Campaigners against the expansion of Gatwick are objecting to plans to extend its North Terminal and build a multi-storey car park. Gatwick has submitted 2 applications to Crawley council for developments which will allow it to handle an extra 5 million passengers a year by 2018. Objectors say the plans will increase noise, pollution, traffic and create water shortages. Gatwick said environmental impact had to be balanced with economic benefits. (BBC)
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Heathrow-on-Sea travel hub inches towards Heathrow airport
Plans to relieve congestion at Heathrow by building a sister airport in the Thames estuary have moved a step closer. The 4-runway travel hub would be connected to the existing airport by a 200mph rail line that would enable passengers to transfer between flights in 45 minutes. The project has been declared technically feasible in a report commissioned by Boris Johnson. He has now appointed Sir David King to conduct a more detailed study. (Sunday Times)
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Southend Airport expansion plans submitted
Southend has submitted an application to Southend Council to extend the runway from 1605 metres to 1905, which will allow larger planes to carry business and leisure passengers to destinations all over Europe. If approved, the runway could be operational in 2011, in time for the Olympics. As well as the runway, the application is for a new terminal and diversion of Eastwoodbury Lane. It is expected to cost in the region of £30-40 million. (UK Airport News)
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Mayor keen on island airport plan
London's mayor is to press ahead with the next stage of plans for an airport in the Thames estuary. A report by an engineer is understood to have found no major obstacles to constructing the airport several miles off the Essex and Kent coasts. Boris Johnson is expected to announce he is to proceed with more engineering and environmental assessments. It has angered environmentalists and Kent County Council has said it would fight the plans. (BBC)
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David Wilshire to stand down over £100,000 allowances paid to own company
David Wilshire, a Conservative MP who is facing questions over why he paid more than £100,000 of public money to his own company, will not stand at the next general election. He had referred himself to John Lyon, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, after the sums he had paid to Moorlands Research Services between 2005 and 2008 were revealed. (David Wilshire has been a strong advocate of the third runway at Heathrow). (Times)
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Route move by Easyjet ratchets up Belfast airports war
The battle between Belfast's rival airports has reached new heights after Easyjet announced it is switching a core route from Belfast International to George Best City Airport. Easyjet said it will switch the twice daily London Luton service it currently operates from January. Belfast International posted a =15% drop in passenger numbers in August from the same month last year compared to Belfast City's +8% increase and a +6% rise in September.
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Legal challenge to London City Airport clears first legal hurdle
The High Court has given Fight the Flights costs protection for their legal challenge to Newham’s decision allowing increased flights from London City Airport. Without costs protection, Fight the Flights would have been at risk of unlimited costs liability and could not have proceeded with the case. Costs protection is only normally given where the Court recognises the public importance of the case.