Airport News
Below are news items relating to specific airports
Heathrow -T5 flight transfers could take until October
Willie Walsh, British Airways chief executive, said on Monday it could take until the autumn for the airline to complete the transfer of its long-haul services from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport. It was possible that the transfer of about 120 long-haul flights to T5 would not be finished until October. (Financial Times)
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Llanbedr – (Snowdonia)Park airport ‘pollution threat’
An environmental charity - the Snowdonia Society - has objected to plans to open a commercial airport within Snowdonia National Park. The former military airfield at Llanbedr near Harlech, Gwynedd, is being taken over on a 125 year lease. The Snowdonia Society has written to the First Minister about their concerns of "pollution and a threat to tourism". (BBC
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Newcastle – Wind farms risk airport growth
Airport bosses are to demand the Government introduces stricter planning rules which would force wind farm developers to consider radar concerns when applying to build turbines. The airport, the Ministry of Defence and air traffic control bosses objected to the proposals, saying the turbines show up on radar, with the resulting safety concerns severely limiting flightpath expansion. (Newcastle Journal)
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Heathrow plans crash zone for runway three on M25 motorway
Plans for a 3rd runway at Heathrow flout safety guidelines by placing a proposed crash-landing zone on top of a motorway junction (M25/M4). The DfT has been advised to create ways of avoiding traffic jams on the junction, to reduce the risk in a hypothetical plane crash. Ruth Kelly failed to publish maps showing that the M25/M4 is within the safety zone. (Sunday Times)
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Heathrow – BA postpones long-haul move to T5
British Airways has delayed moving most of its long-haul flights to Heathrow's new Terminal 5 until June. The new £4.3bn terminal has been plagued by problems, especially with its baggage handling, since it opened. Almost all of BA's long-haul flights were supposed to switch from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 on 30 April. The delay in moving will have a knock-on effect on other airlines. (BBC)
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Stobart and council agree airport deal
The Stobart haulage empire looks set to stay in Cumbria after agreement was reached on a plan to develop Carlisle Airport. Company boss, Andrew Tinkler, and Carlisle City Council leader Mike Mitchelson shook hands on a revised list of conditions for the plan. The proposal will now go back in front of the council's planning committee on April 25, before being sent to the government for final approval. (Cumbria News & Star)
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Birmingham – If we don’t increase emissions someone else will, and benefit
The debate over whether to extend the runway at BIA - which would increase traffic and let direct flights from east Asia and the west coast of the US land there - has erupted into an argument over whether economic or environmental considerations should hold sway. Opponents of restrictions at BIA say the only effect of holding back development would be to force the highly fluid demand and supply for flights to other airports. (Birmingham Post)
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Passengers numbers nosedive at Coventry
Coventry Airport's passenger numbers have almost halved in the past year, according to new figures. They fell by 46% in January compared with the same month last year, following reductions of 42% in December and 46% in November. January had 18,099 passengers using the terminal - down from 33,722 in January 2007. (Leamington Spa Courier)
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Government’s environment policy is ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ – Windsor & Maidenhead leader highlights ‘green carbon con’
The CO2 and 2M groups are pointing out that all 15 eco-towns planned by the government will save tiny amounts of carbon emissions in comparison with the increase in pollution from two new runways at Stansted and Heathrow. The extra carbon created by the use of a second runway at Stansted would be as much as that produced by 1,154,032 average homes every year, in contradiction to the government's claims to be going green. (Windsor & Maidenhead, for CO2)
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2M group reaches 4 million
The 2M group of local councils opposed to Heathrow expansion has now doubled in size following a surge in membership among London boroughs. The most recent councils to join are Brent, Harrow, Lewisham, Southwark and Sutton. The group now represents a combined population of 4 million people. (2M)