General News
Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.
A revolution in the skies… a disaster for the planet
Cheap flights. More flights. Multiplying routes. At the end of a week that has seen protests against airport expansion, predictions of further airport chaos, and record oil prices, British travellers are showing no sign of shaking off their addiction to CO2-heavy cheap flights. A record number of new air links will open from the UK to Europe this summer. (Independent)
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CE Delft report on the economics of Heathrow – short summary
The Department for Transport recently held a consultation into its proposals to expand Heathrow. The main reason the Department gave to support the expansion was that it was essential for the continued success of the London economy. HACAN commissioned a study, by CE Delft, into the economic benefits of Heathrow, and this is a one page summary of its findings.
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We will keep on fighting say Commons protesters
Activists who climbed onto the House of Commons roof insisted their protest was to "protect the lives of millions". The five protesters revealed they would not be deterred and were planning more direct action.
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Fortnight holidays are dying out, says Holiday Inn
Just over half of the 5,000 Brits who took part in a Holiday Inn poll said they definitely would not be going on a two-week summer holiday this year. Instead, the average family now takes approximately 4 short breaks a year. Some 72% now believe that shorter breaks are a more affordable way of treating the family. The poll also found that 15% of people can't stand flying to faraway destinations. (Travel Mole)
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Transport Committee hears from CAA and Manchester Airports Group on air freight
The House of Commons Transport Committee discussed air freight on 27th February, and considered whether the government's approach to air freight was appropriate. Only CAA and Manchester Airports Group gave evidence. (House of Commons)
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Campaign group claims Government’s economic case for Heathrow is flawed
HACAN claimed the Government’s economic case for Heathrow is flawed, a day after almost 3,000 people attended the Westminster protest rally. The new paper, compiled by AirportWatch's Aviation Economic Group, has identified over 20 serious flaws in the Government’s economic case. (HACAN Press Release)
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Runway protesters Plane Stupid take to roof of parliament
Protesters demonstrating against plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport today staged a demonstration on the roof of the Houses of Parliament. The five activists, from the campaign group Plane Stupid, had unfurled two huge banners, one saying "No third runway", and the other, "BAA HQ", in a reference to the airport's operator. (Guardian)
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Beijing to open Norman Foster airport terminal – world’s largest
Beijing's Capital International Airport is making final preparations for the opening of its Terminal 3, the world's largest airport building. Terminal 3 coming into operation will increase the airport's capacity to carry 82 million passengers annually, against the present 35 million, in time for the Olympics. (Telegraph)
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Heathrow Expansion Sets Business Against Environment
Plans to build a third runway at Heathrow have sparked protests and an active blogging campaign stressing a contradiction between major aviation expansion and attempts to fight global warming. More than a third of businessmen polled by London's Institute of Directors took a business flight 10 times or more last year and say work would suffer if flights were curbed. (Airwise news)
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Branson’s coconut airways – but jet is on a flight to nowhere, say critics
A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 running on jet fuel and the oil from 150,000 coconuts took off from Heathrow. Forty minutes later, the first commercial aircraft to be powered partly by biofuel touched down at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. However, Branson admitted that the biofuel mix that partially powered the flight would not be used commercially. (Guardian)