General News
Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.
EC orders 3 airlines to repay $13.6 million in ‘illegal subsidies’ – including about €2 m by Ryanair
The European Commission (EC) has ruled that airlines Ryanair, Tuifly and HLX must repay €12.7m ($13.8m) paid to them in ‘unfair subsidies’ to Klagenfurt Airport – Austria’s 5th largest commercial airport. The amounts of ‘incompatible state aid’ the EC refers to are estimated at around €2m for Ryanair, €1.1m for Tuifly, and €9.6m for HLX. In a decision with huge ramifications, the EC ruled that ‘certain airport services and marketing agreements’ between Austria’s small Klagenfurt Airport and its historic airline users Ryanair, HLX and Tuifly have given these carriers ‘an undue advantage’ under EU state aid rules and are therefore technically illegal. (HLX was merged with Hapagfly in 2007 into the ‘then new brand’ Tuifly). The EC said the subsidies amount to state aid to the airlines. "Moreover, the agreements simply reduce the operating costs of the airlines, without contributing to common transport objectives. These agreements therefore distort competition." This ruling may reopen the debate on whether subsidies paid to airlines on behalf of small airports should continue to be illegal within the EU marketplace. There are questions about other subsidies and if the EC will order airlines to repay any other subsidies paid to them to incentivise the use of small airports. Ryanair says some airports not commercially viable destinations to fly to, without incentives.
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DfT inviting organisations to register to be kept informed of the NPS and airspace consultations early in 2017
The DfT has written to organisations that are "stakeholders" for both the consultation it will hold, in early 2017, on its Airports NPS - and also a consultation on "modernising" UK airspace, in order to fit in a large growth in the number of planes. They will be holding a number of "stakeholder engagement events" in 11 locations across the UK. Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, , Belfast, Liverpool, Cardiff, Newquay, Reading and London. Organisations (the Dft does not mention individuals) can sign up at http://www.aviationconsultations.com/ to register and be sent more information. The DfT say they will then contact people next year with further information, including the date and location; details on how and where to register your organisation's attendance; the option to attend one or both consultation events; and the running order of the day.
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NATS, airports, airlines etc form new campaign “The Sky’s The Limit” to lobby for “modernised” UK airspace (ie. for 50% more planes)
NATS has the job of getting as many planes safely using UK skies as possible, and that is how it makes money. NATS gets extra payments if delays to flights are reduced, and if there are slight savings in fuel (=cost) to the airlines who pay them, for more direct routing etc. The industry fears that, with growing numbers of flights as air travel keeps growing, the amount of delays will rise, as the airspace is already crowded over the south east of the UK. Delays cost airlines (and NATS) money, and so NATS is keen to "modernise" our airspace. This means redesigning it "to make use of modern aircraft technology”. The aim is to increase the current 600 dedicated flight paths in operation at present - 300 for departures and 300 for arrivals - to allow for about 50% more aircraft. They anticipate 3.1 million passenger aircraft per year using UK airports by 2030, compared to 2.1 million now. NATS knows this will mean "more households would be affected by “some” noise under the plans." NATS and the government have no idea how to make this fair to those overflown. What NATS wants is the "efficiency" of narrow routes, where intense aircraft noise causes significant disturbance and even distress to those below. There is no way noise can be limited without reducing the number of flights, which the industry would not contemplate. There is now a new campaign by the industry called "The Sky’s The Limit" to lobby for airspace changes, to fit in 50% more planes. The DfT will hold a consultation early next year on airspace change.
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Study by CE Delft, for T&E, finds CO2 from ships and planes will wipe out half the savings to be made by cars and trucks
Growth in CO2 emissions from shipping and aviation will undo nearly half (43%) of the savings expected to be made by the rest of transport in Europe through to 2030, a new independent study by CE Delft has found. It means that almost half of the already-inadequate emissions savings expected in land transport will be cancelled out by ships and planes. Under measures already in place, land transport is expected to consume 43 Mtoe (million tonnes of oil equivalent) less energy per year in 2030 than it did in 2010. Even this 43 Mtoe cut is less than half of what will be required from land transport under the EU’s proposed 2030 Effort Sharing Regulation, by which cars, vans, trucks, trains and barges should cut their CO2 emissions by 30% compared to their 2005 levels. Yet by comparison with this 43 Mtoe cut by land transport, aviation and shipping are expected to consume 19 Mtoe MORE fuel annually in 2030 than in 2010. Bill Hemmings, aviation and shipping director at T&E, said: “Planes and ships are free riding at the expense of land transport’s already insufficient efforts to cut emissions." In January the European Commission will make a proposal on aviation’s future in the ETS. The recent ICAO deal on aviation carbon is only for participating countries to offset but not reduce CO2, and on a voluntary basis.
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Heathrow appoints 7 firms to design plans for its expansion, with 4-year contracts
Heathrow has announced seven firms have been contracted to design plans for its expansion plans (which it presumes it will be going ahead ... eventually). The group – Amec Foster Wheeler, Arup, Atkins, Grimshaw, Mott MacDonald, Jacobs and Quod – will now be known as the Integrated Design Team. Back in March this year, Heathrow said following “a competitive process Arup, CH2M, MACE and Turner & Townsend have been chosen to work alongside" the airport to deliver its expansion as "partners in the Programme Client Team". Now the four newly announced have been awarded 4-year term contracts. Barry Weekes, Head of Design at Heathrow, said: “With their institutional knowledge of Heathrow, and proven record in building complex infrastructure projects, the members of the Integrated Design Team will allow us to hit the ground running to deliver Heathrow expansion." Amec Foster Wheeler will "continue to assist Heathrow with its sustainability strategies and Environmental Impact Assessment." Arup will "utilise its engineering expertise as well as continuing to lead Heathrow’s passenger experience and baggage improvement programmes." Mott MacDonald brings knowledge developing airport masterplans, as well as its significant engineering expertise. Quod will "offer its town and country planning consultants expertise and extensive knowledge on making successful DCO applications."
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Swedish government commission proposes climate tax (about £6.50 – £29) on air fares
A commission appointed by the Swedish has recommended that airlines operating in Sweden should pay a tax of between 80 and 430 Swedish crowns ($9-47 or £6.80 to £29) per passenger per flight to compensate for carbon emissions. One the levy is instituted, the cost of a domestic flight would rise by 80 crowns and an international flight by 280 to 430 crowns (£24 - 29), depending on the distance of the flight. Currently in Sweden airlines pay VAT of 6% on domestic flights while international flights are exempt from VAT. Predictably, the centre-left government's plans for an airline tax have been criticised by opposition parties who say it would do little to reduce CO2 and would harm the airline industry, by very slightly reducing demand. The government is expected to incorporate a form of the proposal, possibly amended, within their next autumn budget in October 2017. The Swedish commission proposed that the tax come into force on January 1, 2018 and it would be expected to raise around 1.75 billion Swedish crowns (about £150 million) per year. Many other countries have charges for flights, at different levels, and for different reasons. These include Australia, Norway, Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Hong Kong.
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Sarah Olney wins Richmond seat from Zac Goldsmith, on anti-Brexit agenda – while both strongly oppose Heathrow runway
When the Conservative government announced it was backing a 3rd runway at Heathrow, Zac Goldsmith (MP for Richmond) resigned. He had said even before the May 2010 election that he would do this, and as a matter of principle, he did so. The by-election was therefore triggered on the issue of Heathrow, largely because Richmond is badly affected by plane noise from landings every few minutes, for over half of each day. The Liberal Democrats, with only 8 current MPs, (now 9) fought the seat on the issue of Brexit, and their candidate, Sarah Olney has now won with a margin over Zac of around 1,800 votes. (Richmond was a held by the LibDems until 2010). Sarah Olney, who only joined the LibDems in 2015, is also very much opposed to Heathrow expansion, so will carry on the fight against the runway. Her primary focus, however, has been Brexit. Richmond is one of the constituencies that voted most strongly for the Remain campaign, and so this election became one about Brexit - with everyone appreciating that all candidates (except one minor one) were against the runway. Those who backed Zac will be saddened that his principled stand, which is regrettably rare in politics, has been hijacked in order for the LibDems to get another MP. Zac is widely acknowledged to have been an excellent MP. Opposition to the runway will continue in Richmond, as the area would lose half of its "respite" period without planes overhead, it the expansion was allowed. Tania Mathias, who leads local MPs against Heathrow, has already congratulated Sarah on her win, and said she looks forward to working with her.
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TfL hits back defending their estimate of £15 bn for Heathrow surface access, that Grayling said was “ludicrous”
Chris Grayling criticised Transport for London's (TfL) predicted costs for improving road and rail links for the Heathrow expansion. Giving evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee on Heathrow's 3rd runway, the transport secretary said he considered it "ludicrous" that TfL (who are the experts on transport in London) calculate the necessary work as about £15 billion. He said it looked to him as if "somebody has taken every possible transport improvement in the whole of metropolitan London and thrown it into the mix." While the Airports Commission estimated that surface infrastructure changes would cost £5bn, TfL estimated the costs of keeping transport flowing - even with a 50% larger Heathrow - to be around £15m-£20m. Heathrow said it would pay for just £1.1 billion. TfF have responded saying. “Expansion at Heathrow will significantly increase demand for access to the airport. Our expert analysis indicates approximately £15bn more investment will be needed beyond what is already committed and the key component of this is a new southern rail link from Waterloo to Heathrow. Thus far, the government have given no commitments to deliver this new rail link, despite the Airport’s Commissions recommendation to do so and, without such a commitment, the aspirations for no increase in road traffic are not credible.”
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Evidence by Mayor of London to Env Audit Cttee on Heathrow expresses grave concerns on health impacts
The Mayor of London has submitted evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee, on Heathrow's environmental impacts. The Mayor believes Heathrow expansion could have a very detrimental impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Londoners. The submission says: "It is regrettable that Government has decided to take forward Heathrow expansion in spite of the clear evidence of its serious environmental impacts in terms of air quality and noise and, perhaps of greatest concern, what it would mean for public health." ... "It is yet to be demonstrated that an expanded Heathrow could operate without exceeding legal limits for NO2." ... "Delivering significant mode shift will be critical to limiting highway traffic and helping tackle air pollution; but no new rail infrastructure is deemed by Government or the Heathrow Airport Limited to be required for expansion, rendering such an aspiration simply not credible.' ... "Little consideration has been given to the impact expansion will have on the growth in highway trips associated with air freight and induced economic activity..." ... "A three-runway Heathrow would result in an increase in the number of people exposed to significant aircraft noise (at 55dBLden) of over 200,000, compared to a two-runway Heathrow..." and "Even with the partial night flights bans being proposed, the proposals are likely to lead to a net increase in flights across the night period (11pm-7am) of at least 30%." ... and there is more ...
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Another solidarity gathering at the ZAD at NDDL – and a convoy taking hay to farmers near the Channel
The opponents of a new Nantes airport and Notre Dame des Landes are still waiting to see if the authorities try to force them off the land. On the 10th November, there was a good gathering (150 tractors and 500 people) who surrounded one of the farms on the ZAD (zone à defendre) to show solidarity against possible evictions. Now another gathering is planned for 2nd December, as they fear the threat of an attempt to start the removal work is even stronger in the days and weeks ahead. They say "We can not accept that the government does not respect the environmental code and the law on water and protected species." And "it is our duty to prevent the destruction of fertile soils of the ZAD and the expulsion of those who make a living there." The plan is meet up, speeches etc, and then pot au feu! In another solidarity campaign, there will be a relay of tractors taking good quality hay grown on the ZAD, up to farmers in Normandy, who do not have enough. On 13th to 16th 3 hay trailers will start from the ZAD at NDDL, led initially by tractors of farmers at NDDL. Every 20 to 30 km, the relay will be passed to other local farmers with their tractors who take the next stage. Held in the squares of towns or villages, the relay stops will be an opportunity to communicate about the struggle against the planned NDDL airport - and national issues.