Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Glasgow Airport launches surface transport strategy
BAA has launched a 5-year plan to improve public transport access and reduce private vehicle use at the airport. The measures have been outlined in the new Surface Access Strategy which sets out a series of targets and actions to be delivered by 2013, when the Glasgow Airport Rail Link is due to become operational. At present, 11% travelling to and from the airport use public transport. BAA aims to get that to 15% or 1.2m by 2012. (Transport Briefing)
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Stansted Inquiry postponed – common sense beginning to prevail
Stop Stansted Expansion has welcomed today’s decision by Hazel Blears to postpone the start of the Public Inquiry into BAA’s plans for a 2nd runway - which had been due to start on 15 April. SSE together with the SACC had made formal representations for a deferral of the start date of the Inquiry, because of the unfairness of pressing ahead with the hearing before key matters were resolved. These included the result of SSE’s High Court Appeal into the decision to permit an increase of 10 million passengers a year on the existing runway and the implications of the Competition Commission’s impending report on the future ownership of Stansted. (SSE)
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Bill for Heathrow expansion vote passes first stage
A bill proposed by a Liberal Democrat MP for a vote to be held on whether Heathrow airport should be expanded has passed its first stage through parliament with a majority of 44. Under the Airport Expansion Parliamentary Approval Bill, put forward by Liberal Democrat MP Susan Kramer, parliamentary votes would be required for all major airport expansion schemes. (Various)
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Funds for possible Heathrow legal challenge agreed
Richmond Council’s cabinet agreed to make funds available for a possible legal challenge on the Government’s decision to expand Heathrow. Leader of Richmond Council, Serge Lourie said: "We were absolutely furious with the Government. This was a decision which flies in the face of overwhelming public opposition, in particular from almost 4 million residents in and around London represented by the 2M alliance. (R& T Times)
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Ministers ‘ignored’ Heathrow dissent – 86% were opposed
Public opposition to Heathrow’s proposed 3rd runway was far higher than the government admitted, according to a Tory analysis of its consultation. This suggests up to 86% were strongly opposed to the runway. The government said only 37% were clearly opposed. The DfT said: "The decision to support a 3rd runway had already been taken in 2003, so the Heathrow consultation did not explicitly ask people if they were in favour of a 3rd runway or not." (Times)
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Manchester Airport jobs to go after review
Up to 90 jobs are to be axed at Manchester airport because of a drop in passenger numbers, which is expected to continue. Its existing 305 staff would need to reapply for 215 new posts following a review of its employment structure. The Chief executive blamed the recession for the passenger slump. Negotiations with trade unions will start, to avoid compulsory redundancies. 25 jobs would also be lost at East Midlands and 3 at Bournemouth.( BBC)
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Call for limit on Luton night flights
Councillors are calling on Luton Airport to restrict the number of night flights in response to complaints about noise disturbance. A full meeting of Dacorum Borough Council on 25th Feb unanimously supported a motion urging the airport to review its policy and limit night flights to 'at most the current number'. Total flights at Luton had increased from 7,000 in 2000 to 10,000 in 2007. There are currently 36 flights at night, more than Heathrow. (Hemel)
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Right to object to night flights – Doncaster
CPRE and the Green Party are objecting to the Peel application for night-time cargo flights at Robin Hood airport. They say the massive expansion that Peel has in mind will impact on people throughout South Yorkshire, and that the parish councils don't have the power to stop it and Doncaster council is going to put few obstacles in Peel's way. Also that local people need to stand up and make themselves heard before the airport takes over their lives. (Free Press)
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Mandelson in new ‘favours’ row: Minister’s Heathrow PR pal had six meetings with ministers before Heathrow go-ahead
Peter Mandelson is at the centre of a 'favours for friends' row over the proposals to expand Heathrow. Details emerged of the extraordinary access and undue influence the Business Secretary's close acquaintance Roland Rudd - who represents BAA - had to the top tiers of Government. Mr Rudd or his company Finsbury Ltd met ministers at least 5 times in 10 days in the run-up to Labour's unpopular 3rd runway decision, and once a few months earlier.(Mail)
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Recession dashes hopes of passenger increase at Birmingham Airport
Hopes for a dramatic increase in passengers using Birmingham Airport have been dashed by the recession, according to its chief executive, Paul Kehoe who took over running the airport last July. Growth had ground to a halt and may not pick up until 2012. The airport was expected to miss its target of reaching 18 million passengers by 2017, but will still press ahead with plans to extend its runway, to allow long-haul flights. (Birmingham Post)