AirportWatch | General News

Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.

Plan for 2nd Glasgow runway ditched in draft Master Plan with lower passenger forecasts

BAA, the owners of Glasgow Airport, have dropped plans to build a 2nd runway and slashed forecasts for passenger growth under a new 30-year development plan. It expects to see 10 million people a year use Glasgow International by 2020, compared to 6.5 million passengers in 2010, with 16.4 million passengers a year expected by 2040. But this is far lower than the earlier forecast of over 20 million passengers by 2030, needing runway 2.

Students group, People & Planet, make pledges on cutting carbon emissions

Airlines warn Tories not to sell Government 49% stake in NATS

7 UK airlines have warned government not to sell Nats, arguing that the system is a key strategic asset not suitable for full privatisation. The Airline Group warns of "highly damaging" consequences if the state sells all of its 49% stake, an option under consideration by Philip Hammond. The Airline Group, which has a 42% stake in Nats, told Hammond that it would sell its interest if the government failed to retain a shareholding of at least 25%. (Observer)

Taking the train to Europe: Light at the end of the Chunnel

The Metro reports that the future of travel to mainland Europe could take a different turn with the train making a play for millions of new passengers. The number of trains crossing the Channel could double from 2013 with proposed new routes. The plans would mean direct services to major cities and tourist hot spots in Germany, Netherlands, eastern Europe, France, Italy and Spain becoming a reality - using currently unused chunnel capacity.

APD may scupper airlines’ ‘premium economy’ seats

A number of airlines are preparing to scrap their "premium economy" products unless the Treasury agrees to overhaul APD. Currently the same tax is charged on a seat with a couple of inches more space as for a full business-class ticket which includs a lot more. This adds £120 to the cost of a flight to the US. The Government has announced that it is ready to review APD bands and will publish proposals for reform in March in the budget. (Telegraph)

Philip Hammond tells industry “We will not agree” on aviation policy

Hammond has acknowledged he and airline bosses are likely to disagree on some key issues, but called on the industry to back a new government strategy for aviation. The government recognises that the industry plays an important role for the economy and the transport system, but also that aviation imposes a cost, particularly on the environment. And that aviation growth must be "within the environmental constraints, both local and global, that we must impose”.

Hydrogen to fuel planes: too energy intensive to be viable but research continues

Though hydrogen to fuel aircraft has been rejected as an option by most fuel researchers due to enormous energy costs in its production and the need for huge fuel tanks, which themselves increase the plane's fuel consumption. However, a research project at Glasgow university is working to use nanotechnology to find a way of storing hydrogen in a solid state by modifying the compostion and microstructure of the tank.

High-speed rail is no substitute for airport runways, says ex-HS2 boss Rowlands

Sir David Rowlands, who is now chairman of Gatwick airport, the former chairman of High Speed Two last year, and at the DfT from 2003 - 2007, will give a speech on 26th Jan to Transport Times. He will say that HS2 cannot replace a Heathrow 3rd runway or reduce congestion at south east airports. He criticises government policy and says the Government decision to block a 3rd runway was taken with "scant regard" for the evidence and expert analysis.

European Aviation CO2 emissions figures for 2010 – UK and Heathrow are WAY ahead of EU countries or airports

RDC Aviation figures show how much more emissions are produced by UK aviation than any other EU country. UK aviation produced around 44.9 million tonnes of CO2 in 2010. Next comes Germany at 31.4 million, and then France at 25 million tonnes. Heathrow is responsible for nuch more than any other European airport: Heathrow 16.2 million tonnes in 2010; Frankfurt 2nd at 9.9 million; Paris Charles de Gaule 3rd at 9.5 million. Amsterdam 4th. (RDC)

BA and Iberia merged on January 24th to form International Airlines Group

BA and Iberia have merged. Willie Walsh says the new International Airlines Group plan to sign up other airlines in due course. It will be a multinational multi-brand airline group. Combined, the carriers represent the third largest scheduled airline in Europe, with joint revenues of more than €14 billion. Combined passenger numbers are around 57 million per year, and the two have a total of 406 aircraft, and combined employees are around 56,000.

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