Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
£15m plan for Manchester ‘Airport City’
Thousands of jobs may be generated under a blueprint to transform Manchester Airport into a 'mini city' with huge expansion plans for retail, leisure, conferencing and commercial activities across the complex and in the surrounding area. A deal had been struck to buy 30 acres from property giant Burford Group on the outskirts of the airport adjacent to land owned by the city council to form the hub of the Airport City scheme. (Evening News)
Click here to view full story...
SSE accuses BAA of unbelievable spin on its February figures
BAA’s announcement of a 16.2% drop in Stansted passenger numbers in February has been accompanied by unbelievable spin with BAA attributing half the decline to bad weather and the fact that last February had an extra day. Comparison with February figures for 2007 remove the leap year distortion and shows that Stansted handled 19.5% fewer passengers last month compared to the same month in 2007. This is the 4th consecutive month showing of steep drops. (SSE)
Click here to view full story...
Manchester – Green leader lends weight to Rose Cottage campaign
Dr Caroline Lucas has become the first national party leader to support the campaign to save the historic Rose Cottage in Wythenshawe. Dr Lucas has campaigned nationally and in the European Parliament for an end to airport expansions and a fairer tax regime for the aviation industry. She said if Manchester airport increases its air freight capacity, there will be many other adverse environmental effects, as well as the loss of Rose Cottage. (SEMA)
Click here to view full story...
Sipson loses its oldest resident – Jack Clark
Jack Clark, Sipson's oldest resident, who celebrated his 97th birthday in February, died suddenly in the home he loved and where he was determined to stay, despite the threat of eviction for a 3rd runway. This fascinating man featuring on television and in the press. Most recently he was the subject of an article in the February edition of Saga magazine. Jack's memories of life in rural Sipson painted a vivid picture of life before the airport. (NoTRAG)
Click here to view full story...
East Midlands Airport expansion plans – the eight-year wait goes on
Judgement day was supposed to come this month for the East Midlands Airport much-vaunted runway extension. But the planning application disappeared from the latest NW Leicestershire District Council's planning committee agenda. The application to increase the runway by 190m was first submitted in September 2000. Steve Bambrick, head of environment at the council said a decision should be made within the next few months. (This is Derbyshire)
Click here to view full story...
Airline announces new Plymouth to London City route
Air Southwest has today announced it is ‘set to revolutionise travel between Plymouth and London’ with a new route flying direct from Plymouth to the London City airport. It will be a twice-daily direct service from which the airline pledges will ‘fly to the heart of London in just over an hour’. The new service will provide a full business day in London, which is ‘quicker and cheaper than the train’, with all-in fares from just £29. (This is Plymouth)
Click here to view full story...
That’s for backing Heathrow’s third runway, Lord Mandelson
Protesters wielding foodstuffs, paint and buckets of water have long been a messy occupational hazard for politicians venturing out in public. Eggs, flour, cakes and pies have all been used by demonstrators to make their point, but Lord Mandelson has become the first to fall victim to attack by green custard. Anti-Heathrow activist, Leila Deen, flung the custard contents of a coffee cup in his face as he entered a conference on greenhouse emissions. (Indy)
Click here to view full story...
London City airport – Fight the Flights Flash Mob Outside People’s Question Time
A Flash Mob greeted the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson before his People's Question Time in Bethnal Green. Its purpose is to send a clear message that residents in and beyond East London deserve a good quality of life and need to be treated equally rather than being ignored. The want Boris Johnson to change his mind and change the lives of local residents on London City Airport. (Fight the Flights)
Click here to view full story...
Passenger figures crash land after flights are slashed – Doncaster
CAA figures show passenger numbers at Doncaster dipped below the one million mark following 2 years of growth. Last year the site recorded an 8.8% per cent drop in passengers to around 993,000. This was partly due to fewer services by Thomson - its main carrier - to consolidate their business. Passenger numbers grew for the first 4 months of 2008 then then fell every month. There was a drop of 23% in December,compared to Dec 2008 - the worst month. (Free Press)
Click here to view full story...
Aberdeen activists charged in airport protest
Nine people were charged in connection with a protest that caused chaos at Aberdeen Airport. Passengers were left stranded. The chaos came after protesters broke in through the airport’s security fence and set up camp on the tarmac in protest over the Donald Trump golf development and the planned expansion of the airport. Two members also hung a banner off the terminal building’s roof. At least 20 flights faced huge delays, with 10 cancelled. (Evening Express)