General News
Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.
DfT response to the CCC report on reducing aviation emissions to 2050 published
Date added: 25 August, 2011
The DfT has produced its response to the Committee on Climate Change report,
on how UK aviation can fit within UK carbon emissions totals. Also its forecasts
for passengers and for aviation carbon emissions for 2030 and for 2050. There
are many provisos, and a lot of detail, but the DfT is not saying aviation should
not grow, and has not made a commitment that UK aviation CO2 emissions should
be at 2005 levels by 2050.
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Government admits ‘without further action’ flagship aviation climate target will be missed
Date added: 25 August, 2011
In the Transport Secretary’s formal response to the aviation recommendations
of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the government’s independent climate
advisers, there is an admission that on current levels of airport capacity, and
without any additional expansion, the last government’s flagship aviation target
(of ensuring that aviation emissions return to 2005 levels by 2050) cannot be
met – even based on the most optimistic assumptions.
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Flybe load factors increase and passengers up slightly
Date added: 18 August, 2011
Flybe's results for the 3 months to June 30th show its revenues were up 8.3%
on the same time in 2010. Passenger numbers were up 7.7% to 1.98 million. Its
revenue per seat - a key financial indicator - had risen by 4.9% to £48.09. Underlying
seats flown fell by 1.7% year-on-year as the airline took out capacity. But its
load factor (the % of seats filled) was 63.1% compared with 62.7% in the same
period last year. It has 27% of the UK regional air market.
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Boeing 787 Dreamliner Completes Flight Testing for Type Certification
Date added: 18 August, 2011
Boeing claims the 787-9 Dreamliner will bring "unprecedented levels of fuel economy, maintenance cost improvements, and environmental
sensitivity to the marketplace through the use of new technologies including composites,
more-electric systems, advanced aerodynamics and the latest advancements in propulsion."
They look forward to making their first delivery to ANA (All Nipon Airways) in
Japan in September.
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Independent Leading article: If the future lies in train travel, it needs to be affordable
Date added: 18 August, 2011
In the wake of the train fare increases Theresa Villiers, made what has become
the Government's stock response: investment in the rail network is desperately
needed, and deficit reduction is the overwhelming priority. Therefore the burden
of paying for train services must be shifted away from the taxpayer and on to
passengers. Fare rises of up to 13% are way above inflation. The greener alternative to
driving or flying should not be unaffordable.
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Aircraft Emissions Standards Hard To Craft
Date added: 13 August, 2011
Efforts to establish the first CO2 certification standard for aircraft are proving
difficult, and the failure to agree on a metric for CO2 emissions risks delaying
completion of the standard. Any delay will empower environmental groups already
putting pressure on governments to regulate aircraft CO2 emissions in the absence
of a global standard. Last month the ICAO working group tasked with developing
the standard could not agree, and it will take till 2015.
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July 2011 traffic figures for BAA’s airports – passengers up + 0.8% and +2.5% at Heathrow
Date added: 13 August, 2011
Heathrow handled a record 6.9 m passengers (up + 2.5% on last year) in July with
load factor of 84.7%, the -the best ever achieved. The total number of passengers at Heathrow during the last 12 months exceeded
68.5 m for the first time. BAA’s 6 airports handled + 0.8% more passengers than in July 2010. Stansted down
- 7.2%. Passengers to North America were up +5.6%, other long-haul up + 3.9% and
domestic flights down -7.2%.
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UK shipping industry rejects EU’s carbon reduction programme
Date added: 10 August, 2011
The UK Chamber of Shipping has just starting looking at emissions-reduction initiatives
for the industry, despite years of talks. The UK's shipping industry has roundly
rejected the EU ETS, defying calls for shipping to be included in the CO2 reduction
programme. Its Director General said the ETS will not work for shipping, as it
is not a global system and shipping is, and ships would simply refuel instead
at non-EU ports. Aviation joins the ETS in Jan 2012.
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Emirates eyes EU carbon tax (EU ETS) of $1 billion over 10 years
Date added: 9 August, 2011
Emirates, Dubai's flagship carrier, said the EU ETS may cost it as much as $1
billion over 10 years, as it joined other airlines in objecting to the tax. Airlines
around the world have warned of a looming trade war due to the scheme, but the
EU says it will not back down. The carriers say their emissions should only be
tackled by ICAO. Last week the Arab Air Carriers Organization asked Europe not
to include the aviation sector in the ETS scheme.
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Airlines face action on tax refunds
Date added: 9 August, 2011
Some airlines are "ripping off" travellers over refunds for APD. A number of
carriers have withheld "tens of millions of pounds from their customers" in refunded
APD when passengers have booked tickets but not flown, the Air Travel Advisory
Bureau (ATAB) said. They have now joined forces with London law firm Barket Gillette
LLP to fight on passengers' behalf. Most airlines make it hard to recover the
money.
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