General News
Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.
EasyJet announces its intended routes from Southend from April 2012, if the runway extension is built by then
Date added: 27 July, 2011
EasyJet has announced it plans to have a total of 62 weekly departures from Southend
from April 2012. There will be 7 flights to Alicante, 12 to Amsterdam, 7 flights
to Barcelona, 13 to Belfast International, 7 to Faro, 3 to Ibiza, 8 to Malaga,4
to Palma. And there is one more route yet to be announced, which might be perhaps
Edinburgh, or Glasgow or Paris. Until the runway extension is built, full passenger
planes cannot safely land or take off.
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European airlines seek exemption from EU emission trading scheme
Date added: 27 July, 2011
Around 65 European airlines are asking for the aviation sector to be exempt from
the EU ETS while disputes rumble on about non-EU carriers. The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) has written to the EC seeking
an escape clause from the EU ETS until ongoing decision-making is completed or
until the ICAO has had time to develop a climate protection scheme that could
be applied world-wide.
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New Draft National Planning Policy Framework – with presumption in favour of “sustainable development”
Date added: 27 July, 2011
The DCLG has released their draft NPPF (out for consultation until 17th Oct).
It has a strong presumption in favour of development, of anything that boosts
economic growth. Developers like it, and many green NGOs do not. It says little
on airports other than to encourage local authorities to develop "transport investment
necessary to support strategies for the growth of ports, airports or other major
generators of travel demand in their areas."
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In Birmingham Ed Miliband says it was a mistake for Labour to push for 3rd Heathrow runway
Date added: 25 July, 2011
In reply to a question from Birmingham FoE, Ed Miliband said: "We can’t exclude
air travel from thinking about the environment and thinking about our carbon emissions.
We decided in Government to go ahead with the Heathrow terminal third runway –
it was a mistake. You can’t just stop people flying, but you’ve got to do it in
a way that is consistent with your environmental care of the planet.”
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Ryanair predicts up to 12% rise in average fares from now to March 2012
Date added: 25 July, 2011
Ryanair has said that its fares will rise by an average of up to 12% in the year
to the end of March 2012 as fuel prices rise. It has already bought 90% of its fuel for this year, at a price 18% above last year's,
but below current prices. It has reported that pre-tax profits for the 3 months to the end of June came
in at £138m, up 50% from the same period last year (due to ash cloud in 2010). Passenger numbers (seats sold) rose 18% to 18m. Fuel price 49%.
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Newcastle and Manchester Airports oppose devolution of APD powers to Scotland
Date added: 25 July, 2011
Ministers are facing a backlash from Newcastle and Manchester airports over plans
to devolve power on aviation taxes amid fears it could lead to an exodus of passengers
travelling north of the Border to catch flights. The Scottish Government has promised to lower APD to cut fares and encourage
the development of new routes and wants Westminster to hand over responsibility
for the tax to Holyrood. There are fears passengers will drive to Scotland to
fly.
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Ryanair to take legal action against Stansted on ‘overcharges’
Date added: 25 July, 2011
Ryanair has announced it will shortly be launching legal action against BAA Stansted,
seeking a recovery of “substantial overcharges”. It claims it has suffered at the BAA Stansted monopoly’s hands in recent years,
along with other Stansted airlines.
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Business flyers help easyJet profits to soar
Date added: 23 July, 2011
easyJet has forecast profits would take off after more business travellers
have been using its planes. easyJet predicted annual profits of up to £230million, above the £174million expected
by some brokers. EasyJet said business people were using its high‑frequency flights between European
cities such as Berlin, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris. The number of business travellers taking its services rose by a fifth in the 3
months to June 30 .
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Airlines doing more to recycle old aircraft components at end of life as low re-sale value
Date added: 22 July, 2011
Boeing says recycling end-of-life airplanes is key to delivering environmental
performance. More than 13,000 airplanes will be retired over the next 20 years, as they are
replaced with newer and more fuel-efficient
ones, so re-using and recycling components is important. The annual meeting of the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association recently took
place in the USA. They need to develop new aerospace applications for parts and materials recycled from aircraft
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House Lawmakers Seek to Bar Airlines From EU Carbon Program
Date added: 21 July, 2011
Members of the House of Representatives are seeking to keep US airlines from
being part of the European Union’s cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions. A group of lawmakers has introduced a bill to bar US carriers from participating
in the EU ETS next year. It would cost US carriers $1.3 billion in its first
year and may top $3.5 billion. The EU will not back down unless the US adopts
similar measures with comparable CO2 effects for its airlines
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