Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Stansted airport expansion timing in doubt
The timing of the expansion of Stansted airport was thrown into doubt on Tuesday as opponents went to the high court to seek to overturn the government’s recent backing for raising the limit on flights. Airlines at the airport, led by Ryanair and EasyJet, as well as local campaigners, have also written to ministers seeking to postpone by up to a year the opening of the planning inquiry into BAA’s plans to build a 2nd runway and terminal. (FT)
Click here to view full story...
(Newcastle) Transport bosses back “Think North East First” campaign
The Journal has launched a campaign to promote the north east. They are calling on people to support local businesses of all sizes in a bid to help the region through the global financial crisis. The NewcastleGateshead Initiative chief executive said: "We want to encourage our local population to invite relatives from other parts of the country, like Bristol and London, to fly up and visit our region to take advantage of what we have to offer." (Journal)
Click here to view full story...
(Belfast City) Robinson steps in on airport plan
First Minister Peter Robinson has objected to the terms of a motion on a proposed extension of the runway at George Best Belfast City Airport. The motion calls on Environment Minister Sammy Wilson to establish a public inquiry into the matter. But Mr Robinson said if it was passed the environment minister would be caught between his own planning law and the assembly's decision, and be in an impossible position. (BBC)
Click here to view full story...
Stansted Airport legal challenge at High Court
Controversial plans for an expansion of Stansted,which were given the go-ahead by the government are facing a High Court challenge by Stop Stansted Expansion. BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million a year and flights leaving the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year. SSE will argue against the decision in a 3-day hearing, and have accused ministers of disregarding the climate change and noise impacts of the expansion. (BBC)
Click here to view full story...
High Court challenge to the Government decision to expand capacity on Stansted’s single runway
The Appeal by SSE challenging the Government's recent decision to sanction BAA's application for an additional 10 million passengers a year on Stansted's runway will be heard over 3 days - Tues 24 to Thurs 26 February - in the High Court. If SSE succeeds in its challenge to the legality of the process by which the increase in Stansted's capacity was approved, the decision to allow Stansted to handle an extra 10 million passengers/year would be quashed. (SSE)
Click here to view full story...
(Belfast City) Greens urge MLAs to vote for probe of airport plans
Assembly members are being urged to vote for a public inquiry into proposals to extend the runway, and can express their feelings when the issue is put before the Assembly for debate by the Green Party. Fiona McKinley of Belfast City Airport Watch, said the message of MLAs to Sammy Wilson and his planners must leave them in no doubt such a scheme is not wanted by the thousands of people whose lives are affected by an expanding urban airport. (Belfast Telegraph)
Click here to view full story...
BAA to relax its stance on Stansted
The Competition Commission, in its final report due early in March, is expected to call for BAA to be broken up, with the sale of 3 of its 7 UK airports: Gatwick, Stansted and either Edinburgh or Glasgow. Ferrovial is still hopeful of winning some flexibility over the timing of the sale of Stansted, as well as over its own freedom to choose which of Edinburgh or Glasgow airports it should sell. A new owner will have to reconsider the capital spending plans. (FT)
Click here to view full story...
BAA to put Stansted up for sale
BAA is to stage a dramatic about-turn by selling Stansted, which handles 23m passengers a year and is the centre for no-frills airlines in Britain. The move will finally end BAA’s domination of London airports. BAA is now prepared to drop its objections to the Competition Commission demands. An industry insider said there was no point in BAA going on fighting the Competition Commission, now it has won on the bigger point of expanding Heathrow. (Sunday Times)
Click here to view full story...
Stansted 2nd runway now facing 6 year delay over White Paper expectations
In a letter sent by BAA's solicitors to SSE and others, BAA has advised that the planned opening date of 2015 (assuming it is granted planning permission) has yet again been put back, this time until 2017. The original expectation in the Air Transport White Paper was that it would be built by 2011/12. Then in 2004 it slipped to 2012, in 2005 to 2013, in 2008 it was 2015. The dream is over for BAA but the nightmare and blight goes on for the local community.(SSE)
Click here to view full story...
Second Stansted runway is put back again to 2017
The opening of a 2nd runway at Stansted is likely to be delayed by a further 2 years to 2017, it was revealed today. SSE was given the later date in a letter from solicitors acting for BAA. Protesters said the project had been "a farce from the start" and should be scrapped but BAA insisted the runway's completion date depended on a "number of factors". The Aviation White Paper envisaged a 2nd runway in 2011/12, later put back to 2013 then 2015. (Standard)