Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Lydd Airport Action Group approaches EC over potential infringement of Habitats Regulations
LAAG has approached the European Commission over Shepway District Council’s failure to assess Lydd Airport’s planning application on the basis of its longer term ambition set out in the airport’s Master Plan. The Master Plan stipulates a longer term objective of 2 million passengers per annum. LAAG believes the Master Plan must be assessed in combination with the planning application, or risk an infringement of the European Habitats Regulations.
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95% of businesses feel Heathrow expansion will make little or no difference to them
Only 4% of British businesses believe they will benefit from expanding Heathrow. 95% said it would make little or no difference. In contrast, 23% of businesses believe they will be helped by a new high-speed rail line to the North, as proposed by David Cameron. This proves how wrong the Government is to say that British business is crying out for Heathrow expansion. In fact, only a tiny proportion of businesses stand to benefit. (Restore UK)
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Promises, Promises …. Reaction to the publication of Birmingham Airport’s Environment and Community report
Reacting to the release of Birmingham Airport's "Growing Together, Environmental and community report 2007/8", Birmingham FoE and Birmingham BANG welcome this report and all of the work that is taking place at the Airport with respect to the environment and local community. However, the 8% reduction in airport emissions claimed relates only to emissions on the ground, not in the air - or from surface emissions to and from the airport. (FoE)
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Decision on Heathrow 3rd runway delayed till January
A decision on whether a 3rd runway should be built at Heathrow has been put back to January 2009, the Department for Transport has said. The decision had been expected before Christmas. It had been reported the cabinet was split over the issue - the Tories and Lib Dems oppose a 3rd runway and some Labour backbenchers have called for a rethink. Mr Hoon said the government had made it clear it supports a 3rd runway - "subject to environmental controls". (BBC)
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Staverton (Gloucester) runway bid given green light
Controversial plans to extend the runway area at Gloucestershire airport have been given an initial green light by city councillors. They recommended that land is handed over to the airport to make the expansion possible. The airport says the 30-metre extension is critical to meet safety regulations and enable profitable commercial flights to continue. Protestors oppose the scheme which they say is really a plan to expand airport operations.(This is Gloucestershire)
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Stobart’s Andrew Tinkler sued for libel by ex-employee
The CEO of Stobart Group and owner of Carlisle Airport faces a claim for general, exemplary and aggravated damages. Peter Elliott, an aviation consultant, says he has "suffered distress, injury and unlawful multiple attacks upon his personal and professional integrity", and has issued proceedings in the High Court. Mr Elliott withdrew his consultancy services in protest at "criminal aviation activities" at Carlisle Airport.
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Celebrities join petition against Birmingham Airport runway extension
Comedian Mark Thomas and the novelist Will Self are among celebrities opposed to a planned 400-metre extension of Birmingham Airport’s main runway. The pair joined 1,000 protesters to sign a petition urging Solihull Council to throw out the £120 million scheme on environmental grounds. Campaigners dressed as pilots delivered the petition, in the form of postcards, to Solihull Borough Council on top of a duty-free shopping trolley. (Birmingham Post)
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Stobart To Buy Southend Airport For Up To GBP21 Mln
British transport firm Stobart Group has agreed to buy Southend Airport from Regional Airports Limited for up to £21 million. Stobart, whose trucks are a common sight on Britain's motorway network, said the deal would be in line with its multi-modal transport strategy, which already includes rail and sea operations. It also said "We have already started talking to a number of airlines to investigate new passenger services." (Reuters and Times)
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Protesters to target Heathrow with music, jams and action
Militants trying to stop the expansion of Heathrow are planning a series of direct action protests in the New Year. They will carry out co-ordinated attacks designed to cause maximum disruption, and want to make the Government pay for "broken promises" by targeting leading MPs and Heathrow officials. Plans included jamming roads with cars on a go-slow, chaining themselves up at the airport, blasting loud music outside MPs' homes, and more. (Standard)
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Cornish MPs want Newquay airport inquiry
Cornwall's MPs, who are all Liberal Democrats, are calling for an investigation into the temporary closure of Newquay Airport. Cornwall County Council, which owns the airport, had been due to take over operations from the RAF on 1st December. But as the CAA did not grant it a licence in time it has had to cancel all flights in and out until 19th December. About 209 departures and 7,000 passengers could be affected by the temporary closure.(BBC)