General News
Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.
Telegraph articles pressing for more Heathrow and south east airport expansion
The Telegraph is publicising a new report by Frontier Economics, for BAA, hoping to show that the economy is dependent on more south east airport growth, and more routes from Heathrow to China. The articles come during the last month of the Government Scoping Document consultation on production of new UK aviation policy. The government has ruled out new runways in the south east, though encouraging growth in air passengers at regional airports.
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BAA seeks judicial review on airport sales
BAA said it will seek a judicial review of a UK competition authority ruling requiring it to sell off London Stansted airport and one of its Scottish hubs. The appeal is the latest twist in a long battle between BAA and the Competition Commission, going back to 2009. Stop Stansted Expansion said it is appalling behaviour and an abuse of the legal process, just aimed at trying to cling onto Stansted for as long as possible in the hope of obtaining a better price.
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Ryanair passenger ‘threatened with arrest’ after she refused to leave overbooked holiday flight to Manchester
Quite an interesting story, of how inefficient Ryanair is on booking its passengers onto planes. Having booked every last seat, due to an error with an infant over the age of two needing its own seat, a girl passenger was chosen to get off the plane, only because she had apparently been the last to board. Then Ryanair offered anyone €300 to get off the plane instead. The girl is somewhat traumatised by the incident. At least they are flying their planes full ...
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Airlines inclusion in the EU ETS from January – FT article
From 1st Jan 2012 airlines will have to account for the emissions produced on flights to and from EU airports. In the first year of the scheme, airlines will be given allowances matching 82% of their historic emissions, with 15% auctioned and the remaining 3% held in a special reserve for new entrants. Interesting FT article about the process, how little it will cost some airlines, and on the various protest of airlines about inclusion in the ETS.
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Beijing set to become world’s busiest aviation hub with new mega-airport and 120 million passengers per year by 2015
Proposals for staggeringly huge 3rd Beijing airport could mean 120 million passengers pass through the Chinese capital a year, overtaking London as the world's busiest aviation hub. Details are yet to be announced. It could have 9 runways. This aviation expansion will contribute to China's already dire pollution problems and high CO2 emissions. The existing main airport handled 73.9 million passengers in 2010 and this may rise by 2015 to 90 million.
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Safety worries after block of ice lands on house in Bisley, Surrey
A block of ice fell thousands of feet from an aircraft travelling overhead and damaged the roof of a Bisley home on 20th August. The householder is concerned about the safety of his grandchildren, who had been playing in the garden, shortly before. He has not been able to determine whether the offending aircraft was a small private plane or a commercial airliner, now fears a costly bill to repair the damage. There are many other such incidents each year.
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BA has joined the UK Carbon Reporting Framework to help fund UK carbon reduction projects
On 30th August, a new Framework was launched, developed in a partnership between BRE, BA (the first company), Deloitte and Forum for the Future. The Framework acts as a matchmaker between carbon reduction projects, like community owned renewable energy installations or energy efficient refurbishment of social housing and organisations wishing to support such projects in the UK. Companies can fund carbon saving projects and so get credits.
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“Families should skip foreign holidays to cut carbon emissions, says Government adviser”
The previous administration set a target of to reduce aviation’s CO2 emissions to 2005 levels by 2050. This target is currently under review by the Coalition. Foreign travel was highlighted in the recent report for the DfT to draw up proposals for cutting the environmental impact of aviation. It suggests that a range of potential measures, including awareness of carbon footprint, to voluntarily reduce the demand for air travel could be targeted at passengers.
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London’s main airports to reach bursting point in 2030
The DfT's growth forecasts show that Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted would reach capacity within 20 years. Boris Johnson stepped up pressure on the coalition to abandon its opposition to building new runways, saying Britain is in serious danger of running out of aviation capacity where it is needed. The document estimates that by 2040 regional airports would be carrying 210m passengers rather than 185 million by the 5 London airports. Airline passenger numbers in the UK would more than double from 210m in 2010 to 470m by 2050.
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