Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
A380 Superjumbo flight to Birmingham Airport – 9th September
9th September is Birmingham Airport's 70th birthday. To mark the occasion, an Emirates’ A380 will make a flight from Dubai to Birmingham Airport. It is also the date that the new £45 million International Pier opens with state of the art facilities and its first aircraft will be the A380. (UK Airport News)
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Transport Secretary tells owner of Liverpool John Lennon Airport to stop whingeing about "green" taxes
The Transport Secretary has told the owner of John Lennon Airport to stop whingeing about "green" taxes, adding: "You're doomed if you don't pay your fair share". Lord Adonis poured scorn on claims by Peel Airports Group that rising APD was killing regional airports and preventing a new air link from JLA to London. He told MPs that the level of APD "broadly meets the environmental costs" of flying. (Liverpool Echo)
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Gatwick airport bidders raise pressure on Ferrovial
Brinkmanship surrounding the sale of Gatwick has intensified amid the apparent withdrawal of the last bidder from the contest. A consortium led by MAG and Borealis has refused to raise its final bid of around £1.4bn, at least £100m less than the price being sought by BAA. GIP, the main rival bidder, pulled back from the contest in May, when its final bid of around £1.36bn was not accepted by Ferrovial. Ferrovial hopes to complete the deal by autumn. (FT)
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Threat of Leeds Bradford airport expansion is back!
After successfully batting off the proposal in April, the Leeds Bradford Airport expansion proposal will be considered once again by Councillors on Thursday 23rd July at Leeds Civic Hall. "No Leeds Bradford Airport Expansion" hopes to convince councillors to oppose it again. Access to the airport is poor, and an expansion in passenger numbers of 70% in 5 years would create unacceptable local road congestion - as well as environmental damage.
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ABTA doubts Heathrow third runway will be built
A third runway at Heathrow is increasingly unlikely to be built, as the Labour Government 'runs out of momentum' and the Conservative party continue to pledge to block it, Travel Weekly reports that an ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) spokesman has warned. The group's public affairs spokesman said political will is dying for the project. (UK Airport News)
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It’s a taxing time for East Midlands Airport
A top British business figure has said it would be a blow to the East Midlands economy if the Government brings in new taxes on the airline industry. David Frost, director-general of the BCC, claimed that East Midlands Airport – one of the largest freight operations in the UK – would see its business badly hit by new taxes. Gordon Brown had suggested levies on the aviation industry could help pay for measures to tackle climate change. (This is Derbyshire)
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Tories urged to back Heathrow expansion
The British Chambers of Commerce have produced a report claiming the direct economic benefit of adding capacity at Heathrow would be in the region of £300m - £500m a year. They are appealing to the Conservative party to reverse its opposition to the building of a 3rd runway, warning the policy would cost the economy billions of pounds in lost productivity. (FT)
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British Airways to Sharpen Premium-Class Focus Amid Drop in Travel
Europe’s 3rd-largest airline, plans to sharpen its focus on business fliers as the recession saps travel demand. All-business-class flights between London City Airport and New York start in September. A promotion begins today offering U.S. executives free travel to Europe to promote their companies. "We will continue to position ourselves as a premium airline, that is absolutely core to our business model," said a BA spokesman in the US. (Bloomberg)
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A 3rd runway at Heathrow would add £30 billion to UK economy, says new study by the British Chambers of Commerce
The new report, entitled "Economic Impacts of Hub Airports" claims that each year the runway is delayed costs the country between £900m and £1.1bn. They claim that building the runway would add £30 billion to the UK economy, and that it would deliver between £8.6bn and £12.8bn in increased productivity, and approximately £20bn in wider economic benefits, such as higher levels of employment - over 60 years. See also rebuttal by Hacan. (Chambers of Commerce)
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Leading us astray on Heathrow – BAA lobbying
The aviation minister, and others, have misled parliament over BAA's lobbying for a 3rd Heathrow runway. The DfT's obstructiveness in refusing to publish a widely publicised letter made a mockery of Gordon Brown's promise of open government. Now the truth is out and Paul Clark has been caught misleading parliament. There are many things in the letter that were not in the press release, in contrast to claims by the DfT, witholding it. (Guardian)