General News
Below are links to stories of general interest in relation to aviation and airports.
Heathrow owner Ferrovial (25%) probably keen to sell its stake
The Heathrow owner with the largest share (25%), Ferrovial, has opened the door to selling its stake, as it is unclear if it will ever be able to build a 3rd runway. A top executive at Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial said it would look at the merits of bidders if there are offers. It is likely that buyers are being informally sounded out about buying the 25% stake. Recently the regulator, the CAA, ruled that Heathrow will have to cut its passenger charge from £31.57 to £25.43 next year, so the airport will be less profitable. One exit option could be for Ferrovial to sell up to one of its fellow shareholders. Heathrow has proved a lucrative investment for its shareholders, giving them £4 billion in dividends between 2012 and 2020. Though in 2020 the Supreme Court gave permission a 3rd runway, Heathrow got rid of its expansion team, and would have to do a lot of work to reinstate the now outdated plans - against fierce opposition.
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Luton Airport car park to be demolished after fire destroys more than 1,500 cars
A car park at Luton Airport which almost collapsed in a huge blaze on October 10th is set to be demolished. The fire in the multistorey Terminal Car Park 2 was declared a major incident, and ended up destroying around 1,500 cars. Over than 100 firefighters were deployed to bring it under control, while flames spread across multiple floors of the car park and caused a partial collapse of the structure. It's believed the fire started due to an electrical fault or leaking fuel line in a diesel car, possibly a Range Rover. The car park will now be "fully demolished" along with any cars parked on the ground to third levels. As many as 1,500 cars were inside when the blaze broke out - and it is unlikely any would be salvageable. Most of the insurance claims for the cars have been settled. There are (before the fire) 4 official car parks at Luton airport.
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First commercial flight by Indonesian airline, Garuda, using palm oil
Indonesian airline, Garuda, has flown its first commercial flight using palm oil-blended jet fuel. The 737-800NG aircraft flew from the capital Jakarta to Surakarta city, about 550 kilometres (340 miles) away. Garuda conducted several tests including a flight test on the new fuel earlier this month and an engine ground test in August. The palm-oil blended jet fuel is produced by Indonesian state energy firm PT Pertamina at its Cilacap refinery, using hydroprocessed esters and fatty acid (HEFA) technology and is made of refined bleached deodorized palm kernel oil. Countries that grow palm oil (usually having caused deforestation and loss of valuable wildlife habitat) want it used in jet fuel, as well as in a vast number of foods and household products. The airline industry is desperate for people to believe that so-called "sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)" can be produced and make flying "low carbon". Using palm oil in jet fuel certainly will not do that, if the whole lifecycle of the product is considered. The European Union has imposed import restrictions on the palm oil in jet fuel, due to the worsening deforestation problem. Indonesia has mandated 3% biofuel blending by 2020 for jet fuel, but implementation has been delayed.
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Motion passed by London Assembly to protect Richmond Park from increased Heathrow flight paths
A motion has been passed by the London Assembly to protect Richmond Park from increased Heathrow flight paths. The airport submitted proposals for "airspace modernisation" with the aim of making journeys quicker, saving a bit of time. The Friends of Richmond Park has said these proposals could see up to 60,000 arrival flights passing over the park per year. Currently there are no arrival flights, just departures. The Liberal Democrats who put the motion forward have also urged Heathrow to "go back to the drawing board". A Heathrow spokesperson said: "No decisions have been made on which flight path options could be adopted from the recently published shortlist." The Liberal Democrat's transport spokesperson and London Assembly member, Caroline Pidgeon pointed out that thousands of Londoners make their decisions about where to live, based on knowing where flight paths are - and have been for decades - so they can avoid them. "We also know that noise pollution from aircraft can contribute to a range of mental and physical health problems, most often linked to disturbances in our sleep cycles."
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Dutch legal action against KLM misleading adverts
In April 2022, the Dutch advertising watchdog (like the UK’s ASA) ruled that a KLM promotion telling customers they could fly carbon-emission free was misleading. Then in July 2022 the Dutch environmental group "Go Fossil Free" filed a lawsuit against KLM at the court in Amsterdam. Their aim is to end KLM's misleading advertisements about 'sustainable flying'. KLM's marketing leads people to believe that that flying won't worsen the climate emergency. But carbon offsets, biofuels and promises of future technologies are false solutions – there's no such thing as sustainable flying. The group have a petition that people are invited to sign. KLM is planning to expand its business with more flights – like all airlines worldwide – while aggressively lobbying against climate action. But the truth is that the number of flights overall have to be reduced. The campaigners believe it is time for KLM to tell the truth about their fossil-fueled product: flying is one of the fastest ways to heat up the planet. They want KLM to stop misleading claims that carbon offsetting and alternative fuels can make flying sustainable. It was hoped there would be a ruling in 2023.
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Gatwick Northern Runway consultation sees opposition
Crawley Borough Council and 9 other local authorities have submitted a string of concerns to the Planning Inspectorate (PI) about Gatwick’s plans to bring its northern runway into regular use for departing flights. The proposals were accepted for examination in August and are expected to be looked at by an Examining Authority panel (ExA) of the PI in early 2024. Crawley's planning committee agreed to submit a holding objection to the plans – one which could be changed should the airport address the concerns raised. A spokesman said the council has a wide range of concerns with the airport’s expansion project, "including the uncertainty regarding future economic benefits for residents, the airport’s ability to operate within acceptable and enforceable limits without causing environmental harm, the impacts of construction, air quality, traffic and a lack of active travel solutions.” The other nine authorities, who issued a joint statement with Crawley were East Sussex County Council, Horsham District Council, Kent County Council, Mid Sussex District Council, Mole Valley District Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Surrey County Council, Tandridge District Council and West Sussex County Council.
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Transport Select Committee urges DfT to redraft planning policy statements to align with net zero objectives
The Transport Select Committee has criticised the DfT's planned revision of the National Networks National Policy Statement (NNNPS) for not giving sufficient weight to Net Zero. The Committee has published its analysis of the government’s proposals to revamp planning policies for nationally significant road and rail infrastructure projects (NSIPs). They urged ministers to redraft sections that would be used to determine whether major new projects are compatible with net zero legislation, based on the carbon emissions that would be produced during and after their construction. In its current form, the NNNPS would not cut emissions in live with decarbonisation targets. The Committee also made recommendations on the way the DfT looks at different options for projects, how to make its decision-making more transparent, and that calculations of future demand should be more transparent. It proposes that there should be an over-arching Transport NPS, including airports, which would consider new infrastructure, its carbon emissions and impact on sites of biodiversity or geological interest.
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Thomas Woldbye has taken over from Holland-Kaye as CEO of Heathrow
Thomas Woldbye has officially taken over as Heathrow CEO, from John Holland-Kaye. The airport hopes it will improve and grow under his leadership, and says he will "oversee the airport’s multi-billion £ plans to upgrade existing facilities over the next three years to provide an even better service for passengers, including the next generation security programme and new baggage system for Terminal 2." John Holland-Kaye was CEO for over 9 years, and pushed for a third runway, getting parliamentary approval for it, before Covid struck. Thomas Wooldbye was previously CEO of Copenhagen Airport from May 2011 – September 2023, and recently pushed through terminal expansion plans there. Previously, he worked for A.P. Møller-Maersk for 27 years.
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CMA supports CAA decision that Heathrow price cap must fall to £25.43 by 2024
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued a verdict largely supporting the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) pricing decision concerning Heathrow Airport. The CAA had previously mandated that Heathrow reduce average passenger charges from the current £31.57 per passenger to £25.43 by 2024, maintaining this sort of price until the end of 2026. Heathrow had sought to increase these charges to £40 per passenger, while British Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Virgin Atlantic Airways lobbied for charges below £20 per passenger. In its announcement last month, the CMA endorsed the CAA’s pricing strategy but highlighted the need for further consideration of minor pricing-related issues. The CMA’s final verdict was officially confirmed on October 17th. It was seen as a fair level, enabling Heathrow to encourage investors, but not over-charge passengers. Neither Heathrow nor the airlines are happy with the decision. There may be inadequacies in the regulatory framework, including the formula used to set fees at Heathrow.
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Leeds Bradford Airport to start £100m terminal expansion and refurbishment
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has announced it will invest more than £100 million into what it says is a ‘vital’ regeneration of its terminal facilities which will dramatically improve the passenger experience etc. The work, which already has planning permission, will start in autumn this year and is expected to complete in 2026. Farrans Construction has been appointed as the contractor to deliver the first phase of the project, the construction of the terminal extension. The regeneration will see a three-storey extension – the equivalent of 9,500 square meters – to the existing terminal, alongside a significant refurbishment of the current terminal building. There will be more aircraft stands, more seating, faster security, new shops and eateries, and a larger baggage reclaim area and immigration hall, as well as improved access for passengers with restricted mobility. They talk of a lot more jobs, direct and indirect, and claim a huge input into the local economy. That, of course, ignores the amount of money lost to the economy, by far more people flying out of the UK on holiday, than flying in.