General News
Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.
Ryanair increases travel charges
Ryanair is to increase its check-in charges by £1 to £4 per passenger and by £2 to £8 per bag from 6th May to try and reduce its airport costs. Ryanair is encouraging travellers to check-in online and take only hand luggage. Many Ryanair passengers will find that they pay more in taxes, fees and charges than for the flight itself. (BBC)
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Airline emissions ‘far higher than previous estimates’
The aviation industry's failure to curb its soaring carbon emissions could lead to the "worst case scenario" for climate change, as envisaged by the United Nations. An unpublished study has revealed that airlines are pumping 20% more CO2 into the atmosphere than estimates suggest, with total emissions set to reach between 1.2 billion and 1.5 billion tonnes annually by 2025. (Independent)
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Oil hits $120 a barrel milestone
The price of a barrel of oil has risen above $120 for the first time, driven by concerns about the situations in Nigeria and northern Iraq. In Northern Iraq, Turkish forces have renewed cross-border raids against Kurdish insurgents. Meanwhile in Nigeria, rebels have attacked oil wells and pipelines which feed an export terminal. (BBC)
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Planes over Chilterns would be a ‘safety risk’
Proposed changes to flight paths that would result in planes flying at low altitude over The Chilterns pose a significant safety risk, the county council's cabinet member for strategic planning has warned. The council would press NATS to look again at the need for planes to fly at low altitudes of 3500 to 5000ft across The Chilterns. (UK Airport News)
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The impact of soaring fuel costs will dominate easyJet's interim results on Wednesday, with the airline's guidance on outlook and fuel costs seen as a key indication of how the aviation industry is coping with record oil prices. It has revealed a potential £45 million hike in fuel costs last month. (UK Airport News)
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Airports Commission publishes its “sift criteria” for long term capacity options at UK airports
The Airports Commission has published its "sift criteria" by which it will determine which options for additional long term airport capacity submitted by airport scheme proposers/ developers should be taken forward for more detailed development, "should a need for more capacity be identified." It sets out a range of criteria on economic, social and environmental matters. For instance, on noise it asks: "What are the noise implications of the proposal? How will the proposal alter current and predicted patterns of noise in the surrounding area? What changes to noise profiles would be seen at other airports as a result of the proposal? What measures are envisaged to limit or reduce the number of people affected by noise?" And on climate it merely asks "How might the proposal compare, in terms of its impact on greenhouse gas emissions, with alternative options for providing a similar amount of additional capacity?" but does add "The Commission’s consideration of climate change will primarily focus on the overall compatibility of any potential growth in UK aviation with national and international climate change frameworks." See the whole list of sift criteria.
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Horse racing faces battle in the sky
Leading racehorse breeders are to fight controversial plans for a new aircraft stacking zone above Newmarket, amid fears it could destroy the heart of Britain's multimillion-pound horseracing industry. Plans that would see up to 33 planes an hour, circling over a major horse breeding area, threaten to drive away the world's top stud owners. They are fighting back. (Observer)
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British Airways raises fuel surcharges again
BA says it is increasing fuel surcharges on long and short-haul flights from 2 May, due to oil prices. The surcharge for short-haul flights will increase to £13 per single flight from £10, or to £26 for a return flight. For one-way flights of less than 9 hours it will increase from £53 to £63. For flights of more than 9 hours, it will rise from £64 to £79, or £158 for a return journey. (BBC)
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The Soil Association stands by its standards on airfreighted food
Peter Melchett, Policy Director of the Soil Association, defends the Association's decision to continue to allow airfreighted products to be regarded as organic only if they meet Fairtrade or similar ethical trade standards. Air freight emits 177 times more greenhouse gases per food mile than shipping. Nothing else we do to our food between planting the seed and buying the finished product produces so much CO2. (Guardian - letters)
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National Express East Coast trains are on average 21% more punctual than planes between Edinburgh and London
National Express East Coast trains are on average 21% more punctual than planes between Edinburgh and London, according to new research just published. The research also compared train punctuality favourably with domestic air travel performance on the Leeds to London and Newcastle to London routes during 2007. Price also compared well. (National Express press release)