General News
Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.
ICAO workshops to help States prepare action plans to reduce international aviation emissions
Date added: 5 May, 2011
The first of 5 three-day regional workshops to assist ICAO Member States in producing
national action plans for reducing international aviation CO2 emissions has ended
in Mexico. It was for representatives from North, Central and South America and the Caribbean States
nominated by their respective governments, and other stakeholders. This results
from the October ICAO Assembly that States 2% increase in global fuel efficiency up
to 2050.
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China sets new aviation energy intensity reduction target as its officials prepare for talks in Brussels over EU ETS
Date added: 5 May, 2011
China’s Civil Aviation Authority has issued guidance to airlines urging them
to speed up energy efficiency and emissions reduction measures on domestic and
international operations, to cut carbon intensity by 22% by the end of 2020 from
2005 levels. It says Chinese airlines should focus on new technologies such as
alternative fuels, and better air traffic control effiiciency. They will shortly
meeting the EU for talks on the inclusion of China’s airlines into the ETS.
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(IATA) Global air travel shrinks in March – events in Japan and MENA impact air transport
Date added: 4 May, 2011
Compared to February, global passenger demand fell by - 0.3% in March. Year-on-year
growth in passenger demand slowed to 3.8% from the 5.8% recorded in February.
The Japanese earthquake caused about a 1% drop in passengers, and events in the
Middle East and North Africa caused a fall of about 0.9%. Europe’s carriers saw demand + 5.3% above March 2010, and compared to February levels, Europe’s
carriers added 0.5% to capacity but experienced zero demand growth..
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Kate and William choose to staycation in England rather than jet off expensively abroad
Date added: 3 May, 2011
Although there has been a great deal of speculation about the destination for
the royal couple’s honeymoon – the current top favourite is the UK’s Scilly Isles.
The Daily Mail reported that Palace officials don’t want the newlyweds jet-setting
on a pricey foreign holiday while other Brits are still having trouble paying
the rent. They are aware that in these difficult times being seen to take a luxury
honeymoon would send out entirely the wrong signal.
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FT says hard-pressed airlines are moving to cut capacity
Date added: 3 May, 2011
Jet fuel prices are more than $3.30 a gallon – 45% more than a year ago. More weak sets of results from airlines are expected soon in Europe as the region’s 6
largest airline groups report their financial performances amid Middle East unrest
that has raised oil prices. Demand has been strong enough for airlines to raise
fares repeatedly this year, especially for the all-important business-class. But
to be profitable airlines have to reduce capacity.
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Passengers face tougher checks in the wake of Bin Laden’s death
Date added: 3 May, 2011
Millions of Britons face tougher security checks and longer queues amid fears
of reprisals by terrorists seeking to avenge the death of Osama bin Laden. Full-body
‘nude’ scanners could now be rolled out across the UK by ministers, according
to Whitehall insiders. Restrictions on passengers carrying liquids on aircraft
which were due to expire on April 29 will be extended. Pilots’ leaders warned
that airports are a ‘sexy target’ for terrorists. (Mail)
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The clout of Air Alliances – Star Alliance, Oneworld and SkyTeam
Date added: 3 May, 2011
Global airline alliances used to be little more than marketing agreements among
carriers, and travelers had only a dim awareness of them. But over the past decade, 3 alliances — Star Alliance, Oneworld and SkyTeam —
have carved up the globe into 3 teams of at least a dozen airlines each. These
alliances offer passengers easier access to the world, but their growing power
also positions them to dominate unaffiliated rivals and to control prices.
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BAA shrugs off Middle East disruption with higher revenues as customers spend more
Date added: 28 April, 2011
BAA says revenue at Heathrow and Stansted rose +5.6% to £482m in the 1st quarter of the year. This was driven by increasing passenger numbers at Heathrow, with European and long-haul business travellers driving the airport. But passenger numbers slid -6.6% at Stansted, a reflection of the cautious consumer confidence in the UK. Overall, passenger numbers rose +0.6% to 18.7m, with Heathrow up +2.5% to 15m. Heathrow had higher retail spending up 7.3%.
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Business jet operators slam UK government plan to hit them with APD
Date added: 28 April, 2011
Unsurprisingly, private jet operators are angry about the government's plans
to extend APD to invclude them. They are concerned about having to pay local
environmental taxes in addition to paying for their emissions under the EU ETS. London Executive Aviation wants the levy to apply to foreign operators in order to maintain a level playing
field. The European Business Aviation Association said it would persuade aviation interests to move offshore
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Branson and O’Leary ‘were wrong’ to deny volcanic ash-cloud risk
Date added: 26 April, 2011
Air traffic controllers were right to close European airspace last year over
fears of the ash plume from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, a study has found.
Samples of its ash taken at the time of its eruption have led scientists to conclude
that serious structural damage to aircraft could have occurred if passenger planes
had continued to fly. Tiny particles could have damaged the exposed surfaces of
any aircraft, including the engines and cockpit windows.
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