Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
EasyJet’s Gatwick price claims rejected
The High Court has dismissed allegations by easyJet that price increases approved at Gatwick last year were legally flawed, the Civil Aviation Authority said on Friday. EasyJet had accused the CAA, which regulates the airports network, of unlawfully raising the cost of using the airport, claiming that the price hike followed private talks between the regulator and BAA after the deadline for a consultation period passed. (Reuters)
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British Airways to end 4 Gatwick services and switch 5 to Heathrow
British Airways is to transfer 5 services from London Gatwick to Heathrow with the start of its winter schedule. Its flights to Barcelona, Gibraltar, Madrid, Malaga and Pisa will switch airports with effect from Sunday 25 October 2009. BA is transferring passengers on affected flights to alternative flights to and from Heathrow. From the same date, the carrier has cancelled services from Gatwick to Alicante, Krakow, Malta and Palma. (Times)
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Council plans to make Heathrow noise free
People living near Heathrow should have the right to a noise free future according to Hounslow council bosses. Heathrow could become the world’s 1st noise free airport if plans being drawn up by environmental experts are given Government backing. BAA admitted publicly that the number of people affected by noise from Heathrow was double their previous estimates, and its own noise action plan makes no firm commitment to reduce noise. (Dash24)
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London City – New fleet to cut environmental impact, says Cityflyer
City Airport says a fleet of new aircraft arriving in September represents "good news for everyone connected with the airport". Cityflyer, a subsidiary of BA dedicated to the Royal Docks airfield, is replacing its older RJ100 planes with new generation Embraer jets later this year. The managing director said: "It will be a big benefit. Bigger cabins, lower CO2 emissions, lower noise levels and they will also be 56% more efficient so it will save us on fuel."
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Coventry confident of business aviation future
Coventry Airport is confident in its ability to transform itself into a business aviation centre as its new fixed-base operation nears completion. Last year, owner Howard Holdings failed to get the green light to develop a new 2 million passenger terminal and lost scheduled services from low-cost airlines Thomsonfly and Wizz Air. The airport is now up for sale, and wants to develop as a UK cargo, ad hoc charter and executive jet hub. (Flight Global)
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BA still set to fly long haul from London City
BA is to go ahead with the launch of the first transatlantic flights from London City Airport. Flights start on September 29. The new all-business class service is a daily return to New York JFK except Saturdays when London City airport is closed, increasing to two flights a day from mid-October. The aircraft Airbus A318s, the largest aircraft that can be flown from City. It is designed for more but fitted with just 32 seats. (TravelMole)
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MD’s pledge: No lorry depot at Southend Airport
Southend Airport will never be a major lorry depot or delivery centre for bulk freight, Alastair Welch told a gathering of the town’s business chiefs. Mr Welch, the managing director of the airport, moved to allay residents fears about the planned expansion since the takeover by Eddie Stobart. He said their aim is to develop a regional airport which will cater for local people of while continuing maintenance and servicing of aircraft. (Echo)
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Use long haul routes or lose them says Manchester airport
Manchester Airport executives claim the city will lose existing long haul routes from Manchester Airport if passengers don’t use them enough. The airport's commercial director told airline executives that half of all travellers from the North flying to Dubai drove to Heathrow rather than fly from Manchester. The airport is considering routes to long haul destinations such as China, Malaysia, Japan, Boston and Los Angeles. (Crains)
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Brazier champions Manston Airport
Julian Brazier, Shadow Minister for Aviation, used a Parliamentary debate yesterday on Regional Airports to highlight the importance of Manston Airport’s contribution to the local economy. He said the airport was massively disused, and "Today, regional airports are struggling and it is important during the economic crisis that we support local drivers of economic growth. Manston is key in supporting the East Kent economy."
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Farnborough Airport planning application to increase flights from 28,000 to 50,000 per year
The operator of Farnborough Airport - TAG - has submitted an application to increase the number of flights from 28,000 a year to 50,000. TAG carried out a public consultation on the proposed increases in January 2009. The current application is almost identical to what it proposed before the consultation. The proposals would also mean an increase in the number of weekend flights from 5,000 and 9,000, and comes after TAG won a battle to go from 2,500 to 5,000 weekend flights last year.