Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Stobart views straitened times as opportunity
Stobart Group is one of the few businesses that views the current economic uncertainty as an opportunity rather than a threat to its future. Much of its business is in transporting food and "people still need to eat". In December, Stobart bought Southend. Tinkler sees the area as strategically important, with the 2012 Olympics coming up. Stbart has an option, expiring this month, to buy Carlisle airport for about £10m - an announcement is expected shortly. (FT)
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Farnborough – ‘More flights will make the best use of airport’
TAG have started a public consultation on their draft master plan. The document outlines how the company sees the airport developing over the next 10 years. The consultation states: "While the physical capacity of the airport could accommodate up to approximately 100,000 air traffic movements a year, approximately 50,000 a year until 2019 is being considered in light of current safety and environmental constraints". (Get Hampshire)
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Time to give up on runway three – John McDonnell
John McDonnell comments that the Heathrow campaign is increasingly exposing the existence in Britain of a corporate political complex. The interests of big corporations have so permeated government that its major decisions are indistinguishable from the boardroom demands of the leading companies. Even in the face of an immensely broad coalition of opposition to Heathrow expansion, parliament is to be denied a vote on the issue. (Guardian comment)
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Airport shrugs off Carlisle revival plan
Blackpool Airport says plans to increase passenger numbers will not be affected by proposals to develop Carlisle Airport. Carlisle City Council's planning committee has approved a £19m scheme by Stobart, which includes encouraging more passengers. A spokeswoman for Blackpool Airport said the growth at Carlisle would not have an negative impact on the Squires Gate hub. (Gazette)
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BA claim new fuel efficient aircraft fleet for London City airport
BA have ordered 11 new Embraer aircraft for its CityFlyer operation at London City Airport. They will be delivered in September 2009. BA claim they will be much more fuel efficient. However, the net emissions will be higher, due to an anticipated doubling in flight numbers. (BA info ... with some greenwash warnings)
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Labour MPs plan Heathrow revolt
MPs opposed to construction of a 3rd runway at Heathrow are planning a massive cross-party revolt in the new year in a final effort to halt the project. Plans are being formed to force a vote in parliament, against Gordon Brown's wishes, in which dozens of Labour rebels would join the Tories and Lib Dems to oppose the plan. A Commons defeat for Brown would send a clear message that expansion was being pushed through, despite huge public opposition. (Observer)
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Carlisle airport plan gets go-ahead
Carlisle City Council yesterday gave planning permission to allow Eddie Stobart and Stobart Rail to move their operations at Kingstown to the airfield at Crosby-on-Eden. As a condition, Andrew Tinkler will sign a binding agreement to upgrade the runway and passenger terminal, so scheduled passenger flights could start next year. Objectors have vowed to fight on and may apply for a judicial review. Tinkler faces negotiations with a tenant farmer. (News & Star)
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Protesters in plot to shut down Heathrow terminal for a day
Hundreds of demonstrators are planning to disrupt departures from Heathrow's Terminal 1 by invading the check-in area. The sit-in, organised through Climate Rush by internet and activist networks, is timed to put pressure on the Government ahead of an imminent decision on whether to allow a 3rd runway at Heathrow. Hundreds will host a picnic on the floor of T1. If enough people turn up, it is likely to lead to the cancellation of flights. (Evening Standard)
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Gatwick second runway – two BBC videos
Two short video clips about local reaction to the news of a possible second runway at Gatwick, south of the airport and north of Crawley.
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Gatwick runway story ‘over-blown’
The Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign consider the Times' story on 18th Dec under the headline ‘Secret Plans Revealed for 2nd Gatwick Runway’ was over-blown and off-mark. The information seems to be little more than extracts from the 2003 Air Transport White Paper. GACC comments: "Fortunately we believe it will never happen. The main effect of the Times story will be to cause blight and misery as thousands of home owners find it even harder to sell their houses."