Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Multi-million claim over ‘airport hell’ at Manchester
Manchester Airport faces a multi-million pound lawsuit over claims that noise and fumes from planes have slashed the value of nearby homes. More than 200 householders have lodged compensation claims over the airport's 2nd runway, which opened in 2002. The airport hopes to come to an agreement with residents, but if that fails the legal cases will go on into next year. The claims could cost up to £9m. (Manchester Evening News)
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Belfast City – Plane probe over house roof smash
A resident of a house right under the Belfast City flight path has had about 30 tiles ripped from her roof, and smashed in her garden, due to air turbulence caused by the planes flying overhead. Fortunately her daughter was not in the garden at the time. East Belfast Assembly member, Sir Reg Empey said someone could have been killed and the airport should not expand any further. (BBC)
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Council objects to Bristol airport plan
Politicians in Bath have objected to the £150 million expansion of Bristol International Airport amid fears over climate change. Bath and North East Somerset Council this week voted to ask its neighbouring authority to reject the airport's planning application. The final decision on the plan, which would see passenger numbers increase to 10 million in 8 years, rests with North Somerset Council. Bristol City Council has also urged the rejection.
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A380 Super jumbo comes to Birmingham
An Emirates A380 - the largest commercial airliner - landed at Birmingham, on the airport's 70th anniversary. The plane can potentially carry 800 passengers, though instead it has 2 onboard showers and 1st and business class passengers can also use an onboard lounge and bar on the plane's upper deck. The day also saw the opening of the new £45m International Pier. The extended runway could be in place by 2013, if funding for the project can be finalised. (BBC)
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Carbon emissions cap may halt 3rd Heathrow runway
Plans for a 3rd runway at Heathrow came under fresh assault as the CCC - the Government's own climate change adviser - called for deep cuts in Britain's CO2 emission levels. Its report came as leading Labour backbencher Jon Cruddas urged Gordon Brown to abandon his plans for the runway, a move that puts at risk a swathe of marginal seats in west London. He said it made environmental and political sense to halt the new runway before it was too late. (Standard)
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Lydd Airport’s planning application – decision postponed again
Shepway District Council have again delayed the date for the detmination of the application by Lydd Airport for expansion. The date would have been 24th Sept, but will now be "Feb/March 2010". Shepway District Council’s planning officers recommended in their report published on July 1st, 2009 that Lydd Airport’s planning application be rejected largely on environmental grounds. The airport has been unable to provide assurances about environmental damage. (LAAG)
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Threat to 250 jobs as easyJet axes routes – (Luton and East Midlands)
EasyJet is shutting its operation at East Midlands and is cutting flights from Luton by 20%. It blamed the cuts at Luton, which is at the heart of its operations, on 'the airport's failure to recognise the commercial realities of the recession', and complained Luton's costs had risen by 25% over the past 3 years making it 'no longer competitive'. The closure of its operation at East Midlands will hit the Nottingham, Derby and Leicester area. (This is Money)
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Birmingham Airport chief steps up campaign to get high-speed rail link
Birmingham Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe has stepped up his campaign to bring a high-speed rail service to the airport. Arguing strongly for a new public transport hub at BIA and the NEC, where 200mph services to and from London would stop, Mr Kehoe said failure to plan for a new station now would cost future jobs and investment and contribute to economic decline in the West Midlands. Network Rail currently plans to bypass the airport/NEC. (B'ham Post)
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Campaign for Heathrow 3rd runway told not to repeat misleading advert
Future Heathrow has been ordered by the ASA not to repeat an ad which claimed "a third runway won't make Heathrow any noisier or dirtier". The lobby group was also found to have made a 2nd misleading statement in the advert in claiming another runway "won't get the green light unless local air quality meets stringent EU standards on concentrations of nitrogen dioxide". BAA responded on behalf of Future Heathrow to the complaint by an MP. (Standard)
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Gatwick airport submits application for North Terminal extension
Gatwick has put in a planning application for an extension to the North Terminal and other works to enable the airport to expand from its previous peak of 35 million passengers a year to 40 m, with 20,000 extra flights a year. The increase sought is larger than the total size of many regional airports, and will mean more noise, and more pollution. The impact of the application would be more than double the total climate change impact of Crawley Borough.