Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Belfast City Airport to fine flights that breach curfew
George Best Belfast City Airport has revealed that airlines which break its late night curfew will be fined — as it emerged there were more than 500 flights after the 9.30pm deadline last year. It hopes to secure planning permission for an extension to the runway. At present, flights should only operate between 6.30am and 9.30pm. However, figures obtained by FoI found that 535 flights were recorded after 9.30pm, 174 after 10pm. (Belfast Telegraph)
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Ryanair slashes Liverpool flights
Ryanair has blamed APD and the slump in the value for sterling for cutbacks this summer at Liverpool airport. Ten destinations are being cut from the airline’s network from the airport with the loss of 50 pilot, cabin crew and engineering jobs. Ryanair is pulling 1 aircraft out of Liverpool to leave 6, resulting in an anticipated 8% drop in passengers from 2.7 million last year. There will also be further cuts in the winter schedule. (TravelMole)
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Competition Commission to screen Gatwick bidders
Rival groups seeking to buy Gatwick are to go before the Competition Commission in early March to allow potential bids to be screened by the watchdog. They are already holding meetings with the DfT. The watchdog will only have formal powers over the sale process of the airports after publication of its report. The selection of the preferred bidder is likely by mid-April with a further period of up to six weeks expected to gain antitrust clearance. (FT)
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Manston – Furore over fast track for night flight plans
Changes to night flights were rushed through by Thanet council in the hope of securing a major freight operator. Councillors unanimously agreed to pass changes to flight times to allow planes to take off and land for an extra 30 minutes in the evening until 11.30pm and between 6am and 7am. The agreement, to come into effect in May, is on the condition that the airport signs a deal with a large cargo operator, rumoured to be British Airways. (This is Kent)
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Southend – Councils decide to support airport expansion scheme
A combined report by Rochford and Southend councils says: "The preferred option is to support the airport’s growth through an extension of the runway, together with the development of a new railway station, terminal and aircraft handling facilities. It is not considered desirable for the airport to handle significant volumes of freight due to its location and the pressure on the local road network. (Claims of jobs created should be treated with caution).
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Southend Airport Joint Area Action Plan – Consultation on preferred options starts
Southend Borough Council and Rochford District Council are in the process of preparing a planning framework to guide development at London Southend Airport and the neighbouring employment areas. The councils have published their 'Preferred Option' for the development of the area which is now ready for a further consultation period, which closes on 27th March. The final version of the JAAP will be submitted to the Government during summer 2009. (Southend)
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Ferrovial cashes in on its Belfast asset as George Best is sold
Ferrovial has sold Belfast City Airport, to a Dutch - ABN Amro Global Infrastructure Fund - for £132.5m. This is four times the purchase price five years ago. Belfast's rapid increase in price suggests that infrastructure assets remain attractive despite the credit crunch. Belfast City was owned directly by Ferrovial and not via BAA. About 2.2 million passengers used the airport last year and it expects to grow to 2.7 million this year. (Times)
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London City Airport crash: BA Avro RJ jets have experienced problems before
This incident is the 2nd time in a week that a BA CityFlyer jet has closed the runway at London City Airport. As well as the hard landing at City airport on 13th, on February 5 an Avro RJ suffered minor damage to its nose wheel. The Avro RJ-100 is a medium-sized commercial aircraft with room for 4 crew, and between 85 and 100 passengers. In the past there have been two major incidents involving the Avro RJ-100 with a combined total of 99 casualties. (Telegraph)
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British Airways jet in ‘hard landing’ at London City airport
A BA jet from Amsterdam has been involved in an incident at London City Airport. Eyewitnesses say the front wheels by the aircraft's nose collapsed when the plane made a hard landing. The aircraft skidded to a halt on the runway and its 67 passengers and 5 crew were evacuated using the plane's emergency chutes. Six ambulances were called to the scene but there have been no reports of any major injuries. (BBC)
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Southend Airport rail station to open by end of 2009
A new railway station linking Southend Airport with London could be operational by the end of the year. Discussions have been taking place between Network Rail, National Express and the DfT over building the station. They said the station could be working in time for the winter rail timetable. They also spoke of proposals to extend the runway. The railway station wouldn’t be used for rail freight, but to get passengers from the airport to London. (Echo)