Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Gatwick Airport signs up to new legal commitments
Gatwick has signed a new legal agreement with West Sussex County Council and Crawley Borough Council. The agreement outlines how the airport’s operation, growth and environmental impacts will be managed in future. This agreement and Gatwick’s interim master plan supersede the Gatwick Airport Sustainable Development Strategy, published in July 2000 and the original legal agreement signed in 2001. The new agreement will run until the end of 2015. (BAA)
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Birmingham Heathrow high-speed link could hit BIA
Transport minister Lord Adonis wants to build the country’s largest passenger interchange at Heathrow as part of a 200 mph express line linking St Pancras to Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow. He said the "bullet train" line could mirror London’s Crossrail project, which attracted £700million from private companies. It currently takes 2 hours to travel by train from Birmingham to Heathrow. A fast link might benefit BIA, though it may not. (Birmingham Post)
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Fears over staff cuts at Derry airport
Jobs at the loss-making City of Derry Airport are under threat. Airport managers have to save a proposed £600,000 amid increased financial pressure facing local authorities in Northern Ireland. Uncertainty over the funding available to councils contributed to the problem. Ryanair has announced plans to scale back its services from the airport. Airport managers yesterday began discussions with employees and union representatives. (Belfast Telegraph)
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Heathrow rail link a ‘cynical ploy’
Suggestions from a government minister that a high-speed rail link may be built alongside a third runway at Heathrow were described last night as a "cynical ploy". Lord Adonis said that an international rail interchange could be built at Heathrow, in compensation for the environmental damage a new runway would cause. Hacan said the Government was "in disarray" about the project and had never talked about a rail link until the Tories brought it up. (Indy)
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New flight paths for Heathrow will bring jets’ roar to millions
Hundreds of thousands of homes will be exposed to more aircraft noise from planned new flight paths that will allow 60,000 more aircraft a year to use Heathrow’s existing runways. The flight paths will be phased in, the first as early as next year, and will affect people living up to 30 miles from the airport. The Times has learnt that this expansion will require a complete redesign of the flight paths of approaching aircraft. (Times)
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Hoon: Heathrow study on pollution ‘over-cautious’
Geoff Hoon has cleared the way for expansion of Heathrow by branding the Government's own warnings over pollution "over-cautious". He has disputed a key finding of his officials in the risk register regarding the expansion proposals. In a letter to Justine Greening MP, he regards the risk register, published in October 2007, to over estimate air quality problems - though this does not relate to a third runway. (Standard)
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BAA emission controls fail to halt airport breaching pollution limits
BAA has failed to control pollution levels around Heathrow while pushing for a 3rd runway and more flights. New figures reveal that last year air quality broke the government’s own pollution target despite initiatives by BAA to curb emissions. It means EU legal limits will almost certainly be breached when they are brought in next year. The annual mean average level of NO2 was 52 micrograms per cubic metre but the EU legal limit is 40 micrograms. (Times)
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Voters to make Labour MPs pay on Heathrow expansion
Labour faces losing 4 out of 6 marginal seats to the Tories in west London following the controversy surrounding the expansion of Heathrow. Among those who would lose their seat are Ann Keen - MP for Brentford and Isleworth. An ICM poll commissioned by Greenpeace on Dec 17th revealed 23% of voters in the 6 seats said they would be even less likely to back Labour if the government approves plans to build a 3rd runway and 6th terminal at Heathrow. (Times)
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Have your say on new Dungeness C nuclear power plant plan close to Lydd
Plans for a third nuclear power station at Dungeness will be discussed at a series of public meetings next month. With one of its reactors now closed and the other nearing the end of its life, owner British Energy has earmarked the site as an obvious location for one of a new generation of plants. There will be 6 meetings between January 13 and 29. A potential third reactor would produce a maximum output of 1,600MW and jobs for 60 years. (Kent News)
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UK faces court case over air pollution breaches
The EU is planning to take Britain to court for consistently breaching air pollution laws, which could result in unlimited daily fines. Air pollution near many roads averages well over twice the UN's WHO maximum recommended level, which has led to constant infringements of EU air quality laws. Dimas revealed that legal proceedings were being prepared. Aviation is a significant contributor of NO2, making the Heathrow decision highly relevant. (Guardian)