General News
Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.
Heathrow – Britain’s new eco battle
A historic decision over a new runway for Heathrow is close. And as airports across the UK unveil new expansion plans the growth of aviation will become a fierce battleground between environmentalists and big business. It is a struggle which will shape Britain's eco future for generations to come. (Observer)
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Emissions targets and international air travel
Opinion - John Lanchester) You'd have thought the Government - committed as it is to the EU target of cutting greenhouse emissions by 20% by 2020 - would be trying to bring an end to the rocketing expansion of British air travel. Instead, it is committed to the largest expansion of airport traffic in history, from 216 million passengers in 2005 to a projected figure of 470 million in 2030. (Telegraph)
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London City airport – Newham do a U-turn on their responsibility to consult in Greenwich
After months of denial from Newham Council that they did not have to consult in the neighbouring Borough of Greenwich, just under a mile from the end of the runway - Newham Council Planning Department have finally realised that they ARE responsible for consulting directly with residents in Greenwich and all adjoining occupiers. (Fight the Flights campaign)
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CAA publishes report on trends in UK air passenger traffic
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published a report, Recent Trends in Growth of UK Air Passenger Demand, which sets out an analysis of how growth in different segments of passenger traffic at UK airports has changed in recent years and the likely causes of these changes (CAA website)
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Air travellers to New Zealand ‘cost’ 8 million tonnes of carbon annually
A study by two Otago University researchers finds greenhouse gas emissions generated by the 2.4 million visitors' air travel to New Zealand per year were far greater than commonly quoted and are roughly the same as the emissions from all the country's coal, gas and oil-fired power generation. (NZ Herald)
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Business airline Silverjet boosted as rivals collapse
Business class only airline Silverjet saw passenger numbers rise 12% in December as it benefited from the collapse of rival Maxjet. Silverjet said it had picked up 800 bookings from passengers with tickets on Maxjet services since the company filed for bankruptcy in December - but % of seats filled is down. (Telegraph)
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Supermarket flies fish 5,000 miles from country where millions are starving
Waitrose has outraged human rights activists by selling tilapia fish from Zimbabwe. The campaigners said it is wrong to fly in food more than 5,000 miles from a country where millions are on the brink of starvation. Buyers for the chain say that selling the fleshy white fish helps preserve threatened species such as cod. (Daily Mail)
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Ryanair guarantees no fuel surcharges ever
Ryanair called on Europe’s carriers to put an end to fuel surcharges in 2008. According to Ryanair, "high fare airlines across Europe committed their greatest passenger gouging ever in 2007, jacking up their rip-off fuel surcharges to record levels. To celebrate Ryanair’s no fuel surcharge ever guarantee, they are giving away 2 million seats for £10. (Peanuts online)
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2007: more than 29.5 million flights worldwide – Highest Ever Number Recorded – Largest Year-on-Year Increase Since 2004
OAG the global flight information and data solutions company, reveals that the world’s airlines – including low cost carriers – scheduled a record 29.6 million flights during 2007, an increase of 4.7% on 2006. This represents an average of 80,987 individual take-offs per day worldwide. (Official Airline Guide)
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Italy declares Air France preferred bidder for Alitalia
The long saga of who will buy Alitalia is nearing conclusion with Air France-KLM named as the preferred bidder. Alitalia is losing about €1 million ( £730,000) a day, has €1.71 billion of debt and will run out of cash early next year, but political interference has delayed a possible deal for 6 months. (Times)