Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Heathrow ‘needs rail links as well as third runway’
BAA launched an ambitious campaign for a 3rd runway at Heathrow and a high-speed rail network across Britain. A government decision on the airport could be announced next month. But BAA fears environmental and financial concerns might see ministers back away from expansion and opt for more flights from the existing runways. They want a high-speed rail network that will connect the UK's hub airport with every major centre of population. (Evening Standard)
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Health trust to sue Heathrow over expansion
A HEALTHCARE trust has threatened to claim millions of pounds in compensation from BAA if a third runway at Heathrow goes ahead. Minutes from an internal board meeting show how Hounslow Primary Care Trust has objected to the proposals for expansion, claiming an increase in activity would put an undue burden on their resources. If the plans went ahead it would work with the local council and the NHS to push for the compensation. (Standard)
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Passenger figures down at a number of UK airports during September
Several of the stories from UK Airport News, showing declines in passenger numbers at a range of airports during September. Compared to September 2007, Exeter is down 5%, 11.4% at Norwich, (4.5% down across the UK as a whole), 2.2% down at the Isle of Man, 2.9% down at Edinburgh, 4.2% down at Aberdeen, 5% less for the BAA airports combined, and sharp drops at Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley. (UK Airport News)
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Heathrow car park transit system takes shape
The guideways linking Heathrow Terminal 5 with its business car park have been completed and the new, driverless Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system is close to beginning trials of the pioneering project. A fleet of 18 battery powered, driverless cars will transport passengers around Heathrow in the first commercial PRT system in the world. (UK Airport News)
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Richest business travellers use Heathrow (CAA UK Passenger Survey 2007/8)
The CAA UK Passenger Survey 2007 / 2008 reveals a great deal of data on passeners travelling from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Doncaster Sheffield, Humberside, Liverpool and Manchester airports. The income of business passengers at these airports is compared (using personal income for business travellers, and household income for leisure passengers) as well as the percent of business compared to leisure trips. (Times and CAA)
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(Bagby) Villagers in battle to ground airfield expansion
For four decades, Bagby Airfield, near Thirsk in North Yorkshire, has existed side by side with its rural neighbours – but now expansion plans, coupled with what some locals claim is an increase in air traffic, has led to a nosedive in relationships. New management is seeking planning consent for a replacement clubhouse with accommodation, leisure facilities, and seven hangars, and more. Residents have formed a protest group, Action4Refusal. (Yorkshire Post)
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Councils face £1m bill over ‘unreasonable’ block on Stansted expansion
An unprecedented decision means council tax payers in Hertfordshire will have to foot part of a £1m bill after Herts County Council was found to have acted ‘unreasonably’ while opposing the Stansted Airport expansion. Planning inspector Alan Boyland concluded that the inadequacies of the case presented by Uttlesford district and Herts county councils mean they should pay part of BAA's costs, estimated at more than £1m. (UK Airport News)
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Northern Ireland environment minister has given the go ahead for an extra 3,000 flights per year at Belfast City Airport
Northern Ireland environment minister Sammy Wilson has given the go ahead for an extra 3,000 flights per year in and out of George Best Belfast City Airport. An extra 0.5m passengers will be able to use the airport each year. However, it will be subjected to tighter regulations on noise and activity levels. The airport is expected to announce a community fund into which airline fines for late flights will be paid. (Planning Daily)
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Heathrow expansion: government accused of dragging heels on EU pollution curbs
Both opposition parties have accused the government of dragging its heels on implementing EU clean air legislation in it efforts to push through Heathrow's 3rd runway. New Whitehall documents show that ministers are planning to water down EU pollution curbs. Information received from the DfT following a FoI request shows that Defra and DfT officials worked together to 'ensure negotiations over the Directive take account of Heathrow position'. (NCE)
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Government accused of delaying EU pollution cuts to allow Heathrow expansion
Ministers are planning to water down EU pollution curbs in order to allow Heathrow to expand. Official Whitehall papers show civil servants are working to delay for 5 years a Brussels air quality directive due to come into force in 2010 - specifically to avoid harming the airport's growth. The documents, obtained under FoI by the Evening Standard reveal that EU rules on levels of NO2 would pose a 'risk' to plans to increase flights at Heathrow. (Mail)