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Latest news stories:
Petition to British Airways to get them to stop profiting from promoting trips to SeaWorld
A petition calling on British Airways to stop selling trips to see captive whales and dolphins at SeaWorld has attracted more than 94,500 signatures. It is calling on BA to end their links with attractions that include captive marine mammals. The increasing number of signatures on the petition comes as 2 new beluga whales are delivered to SeaWorld San Diego. The animals' natural habitat is in arctic and sub-arctic waters, swimming huge distances each year. A lifetime in a concrete tank awaits them at SeaWorld, and "training." Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), a charity that works to protect cetaceans, is backing the petition as part of a wider campaign to stop tour operators, including BA, Virgin Holidays and Thomas Cook, from offering trips to see captive whales and dolphins. BA responded to the petition on change.org, attempting to wash its hand of responsibility, by saying that it was up to consumers whether or not they opted to book trips to SeaWorld. BA is currently selling 3-day passes to SeaWorld Orlando. WDC said for BA to somehow claim that by selling these trips it is not part of the problem is bizarre.
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Tourism gap between London and the regions widens – ever more tourist spend going to London
VisitEngland is to tackle the widening gap between tourism to London and the rest of England. Since 2008 the number of inbound trips to London has increased by 14%, while the number of trips to other areas of England is still 4% lower than it was before the recession. A conference entitled: "Mind the Gap: Addressing the Tourism Divide" is discussing whether there is enough investment in infrastructure outside London. The regions want a larger proportion of tourism income. The Deputy chair of the Regional Growth Fund Independent Advisory Panel said: "We now need to ... boost tourism outside London. This means promoting the use of regional airports and making in-bound tourists more aware of all the visitor attractions across the country with ready-made packages they can take up before they leave home." VisitScotland said securing new direct flight routes has been invaluable to their increase in tourism. A report for Visit Britain in late 2013 showed tourism spending in London was 47% by international tourists (53% domestic) but 21% international (79% domestic) for the rest of England. No reason for further emphasising the London/regions divide by yet another south east runway.
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New UK runway consent unlikely before March 2020 at the earliest, due to necessary National Policy Statement etc
Speaking at the RunwaysUK Surface Access debate on 2nd June, Oliver Mulvey of the Airports Commission Secretariat confirmed that final go-ahead by the government for any new runway would take at least a year following publication of the Commission’s final report after the General Election in 2015. Planning consent for a new runway is unlikely to come before March 2020 (with an election in May 2020) despite government efforts to streamline the controversial planning process using the Airports Commission. It would take the new government at least a year to produce the necessary National Policy Statement on runways. It might take 2 years to agree the NPS. After that, Mr Mulvey confirmed there are 2 possible routes: "The first is a planning application under the 2008 Planning Act. The other is the Hybrid Bill route, as for HS2. Both have their own risk and costs associated with them. ....All our dates show the middle of the next decade [2025] as the earliest a new runway could open.” The planning process for a NSIP (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project) - which a runway would be - is itself a long process.
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Airports Commission publishes discussion on the UK’s existing regional airport capacity
The Airports Commission is calling for evidence on the connectivity and business models of the UK’s existing airport capacity. It has released a discussion paper - its 6th - entitled "Utilisation of the UK’s Existing Airport Capacity" which considers the national aviation picture from which the Commission is considering the shortlisted options for additional capacity in London and the south east. This call for evidence focuses on the domestic and international connectivity provided by regional airports and airports serving London and the south east other than Heathrow and Gatwick, and considers what recommendations the Commission could usefully make to shape this national picture. It says all airports other than Gatwick and Heathrow are critical to the Commission’s analysis, and they will continue to play a crucial national role, especially at a time when the major London airports are operating very close to capacity. The discussion document looks at "connectivity trends at these airports, how the business models of these airports are developing and whether the connectivity provided by these airports can be enhanced." Deadline for comment is 25th July.
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“Little Red” airline had only 37.6% load factor in 2013 – lowest in industry
Virgin Atlantic's domestic airline, Little Red, has had poor ticket sales in the first year of its launch, in March 2013. Its planes have been on average less than 40% full (37.6%). The point of Little Red is to feed passengers from the north of England and Scotland into Virgin Atlantic’s long-haul network from Heathrow. Its low use has been public knowledge since its launch. The CAA's airline data is now available for the year. Little Red's load factor is the lowest in the aviation industry - well behind rivals BA and easyJet, with load factors (proportion of seats filled) of 72.4% and 77.8% respectively for 2013. In an interview with The Telegraph last month, Virgin Atlantic’s chief executive, Craig Kreeger, refused to reveal Little Red’s load factor, saying rumours of the service’s demise had been “greatly exaggerated”. Virgin claims its load factor will rise this year. A shockingly high carbon way to travel, if the plane is largely empty. Virgin cuts its losses in 2013 to £51m from £102m.
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Residents in areas near Luton urged to record the aircraft noise
Residents in the Luton area have held a meeting to voice their concerns following the decision in early May by the Government (Eric Pickles) to not call in the planning application for the expansion for Luton Airport. The meeting, chaired by Luton and District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (LADACAN), was held in Breachwood Green and was attended by about 50 people. They were encouraged to record aircraft noise, to keep details of the current situation. The expansion application would see passenger capacity rise from 12.5 million to 18 million a year by 2026. That decision has been widely criticised by local people,and by their MPs who realise it will adversely affect local quality of life for thousands. It means the expansion can now be granted by Luton Borough Council – which also owns the airport. There is very real and widespread concern about the number of night flights, noise both of departures and arrivals, road congestion, and air quality - as well as climate change implications.
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DfT signs first public service obligation to protect Dundee Airport to Stansted route
Air links between Dundee and London have been secured for the next 2 years with funding put in place today by the UK government. The public service obligation (PSO) agreed between the UK government and Dundee City Council guarantees £2.85 million to keep the route open, with flight times between the 2 airports at around 90 minutes. The funding comes from the new Regional Air Connectivity fund announced by Danny Alexander at Spending Round 13. This is the first funding of its kind. Robert Goodwill, UK Aviation Minister said: "Regional airports have a key role to play in our long term economic plan for the nation’s future prosperity, and the government is committed to ensuring they have access to London and vice versa." The Regional Air Connectivity fund can be used to maintain important regional air connections, where they are in danger of being lost. The government doubled the size of the fund to £20 million per year in the 2014 Budget. The government aims to set up a second PSO agreement for the Newquay-London air link later this year, for business and tourism.
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London City Airport now re-consulting on its expansion planning application
London City Airport has a planning application, initially submitted in July 2013, originally with 28th October as the comment deadline, for "Works to demolish existing buildings and structures and provide additional infrastructure and passenger facilities at London City Airport without changes to the number of permitted flights or opening hours previously permitted pursuant to planning permission." The comment deadline was extended to 18th December. The local authority, Newham Council, has now announced that it will be re-consulting on the application. The deadline for comment is now 10th July, with the application expected to go to committee on 23rd July 2014. There have so been 1,282 responses to the application, all of which appear to be objecting to it. The airport said last year they were extending the deadline so"as many local people and wider stakeholders as possible can make their voices heard." here was another deadline of 2nd May, for a consultation on extra material the Mayor and Newham asked of the airport, including an Environmental Statement, addendum etc…. . Tweet
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Heathrow uses glitch-free opening of T2 to try and persuade people it can build a 3rd runway
Heathrow's new Terminal 2 - which cost the airport £2.5 billion - opened on 4th June, with no problems. It had a very low key and unambitious opening, with just 6,000 passengers on the first day of operation – 0.03% of its 20 million passenger capacity - thereby avoiding the chaotic scenes which accompanied the opening of Terminal 5 in 2008. John Holland-Kaye, who takes over as Heathrow’s chief executive next month, claimed the new terminal would help Heathrow's quest for a 3rd runway, as they managed to do it without anything going wrong (there were months of practices to ensure problems were avoided) and with Heathrow staying open. Mr Holland-Kaye, who is paid to say this sort of thing, said perceptions and the "political landscape" about Heathrow had changed (no evidence given) over the past 5 - 6 years. "We have been able to listen much more to the local community and changed our plans to be more acceptable. We have coming together a possibility of building a political consensus around Heathrow".... But that really isn't true....
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CEO of Birmingham airport says airlines should be encouraged to use regional airports
Paul Kehoe, chief executive of Birmingham Airport has urged the Government to get behind 'great airports for great cities'. Addressing a cross party reception of MPs, lords and business leaders in London following the Queen's Speech, he said more needed to be done to maximise the use of what capacity the country has now in its city regions. The south east has a disproportionate amount of UK airport capacity. Kehoe says Birmingham can now cater for long-haul flights to destinations such as China and the west coast of the US and will be even closer to the capital when,or if, HS2 opens. Next month, it will be the first airport outside of London to host a flight to and from China. He told MPs: "The West Midlands is the only region in the UK with a positive balance of trade with China, with our advanced manufacturing base leading the way. He wants to see government action to make better use of the airports and runways we have already. This means changes to tax rules to encourage airlines to use regional airports for long haul routes.
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Stars to judge £10,000 Heathrow anti-runway campaign film competition – entry deadline 7th June
Zac Goldsmith had unveiled his star cast to judge a £10,000 anti-Heathrow airport expansion film competition. Presenter Holly Willoughby and Bafta award-winning director Nick Broomfield will join actor Hugh Grant and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth on the panel of judges for the "No Ifs No Buts" competition set up by Zac (MP for Richmond) with anti-expansion group Hacan. The nationwide competition was launched 2 months ago to highlight opposition to the 3rd runway at Heathrow. Entrants have been asked to submit a 2-minute video saying why a 3rd runway should not be built. The short-listed entries will be judged by at a gala night in the Richmond Theatre in front of 800 guests on June 18, with a £10,000 prize. Zac said: “Heathrow expansion is not politically deliverable. The arguments against it are stacking up every week and the opposition is organised and growing ..... A green light for Heathrow expansion is effectively a green light for a vast, foreign-owned and taxpayer-subsidised monopoly on one edge of our great city. It is astonishing that the idea is even in consideration.”
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Thousands across France will converge on Nantes for 5/6th July – many marching with walking stick relay
Over the weekend of 5th and 6th July , there will be another massive mobilisation at Notre Dame des Landes, against the planned new airport - to replace the existing Nantes airport. Thousands will attend from across France. There are around 200 support committees across the country, working to oppose the airport. Now there will be "convergences" from across France, where people are already setting out to walk to the protest. Others will travel, by bike, and many also by vehicle - having attended protest rallies in the areas from where they start. The chosen symbol for these marches, or "caravans" will be their walking sticks. Remembering the civil protests in the 1970s against a military camp at Larzac, those walking will bring with them a walking stick (engraved with their name, and the region from which they come), and the rhythmic noise of these clacking on the tarmac will be, as with the Larzac march to Paris in 1978, the sound signature of this part of the protest. Those who cannot complete the whole march will pass on their walking sticks as a relay, so they arrive at Notre Dame des Landes.
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Gatwick claims that with better public transport it will be “road & rail ready” for 2nd runway by 2021
Gatwick has produced a glossy document setting out how it will have fantastic road and rail links in place by 2021, that there will be no road or rail congestion, and everyone will have smoother and easier journeys. And at no cost to anyone. There are some stunning omissions. Most things that are inconvenient are just left out. They say "Gatwick will increase the cost efficiency in the rail industry by filling off-peak trains as well as providing passengers for trains operating in the opposite direction to peak commuter services. While it is estimated that, on the busiest trains, only 5% of travellers will be air passengers, the overall benefit they will bring will be around £3 billion in additional fare income." Gatwick says: "Junction 9 of the M23 ... will need to be upgraded to cater for expansion. Gatwick has committed to funding a doubling of this motorway junction capacity." The only thing Gatwick has said it will pay for. Also: "we have re-designed the local road network to be no busier than it is today, even after a general increase in demand, which will lessen local noise and air quality effects of background traffic, benefit economic activity and the quality of life of those using and living along the affected roads." Really? Who writes this stuff?
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Heathrow and Gatwick set out their rival claims at RunwaysUK conference on airport surface access
The organisation, RunwaysUK, which describes itself as a neutral platform for debate on the rival runway schemes, held an interesting and productive half day conference on surface access to airports. There were accounts by Heathrow, Gatwick, Heathrow Hub and the Thames estuary scheme proposers of their plans for road and rail access, as well as contributions by TfL, Network Rail and others with an interest. It is recognised that adding a runway in the south east would come with immense transport strains on existing transport infrastructure. In order to meet requirements on the amount of passengers (and staff) using the airport to be by public transport, the airports know they cannot depend on road access alone. The pressure of extra passengers on networks that are already stretched, especially at peak times, is recognised - though Gatwick and Heathrow do their best to say their passengers will add little, and merely make rail services more profitable out of peak hours. Vexed issues remain of how much the taxpayer pays for transport services the airports benefit from, and what the cost of added congestion to road and rail services - from millions of extra air passengers being added - would cost the economy.
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New airport planned at Chinchero close to Machu Picchu to bring in ever more tourists
Machu Picchu is one of the world’s great spectacles, and the numbers of tourists visiting it has risen – 2.3 million in 2011. Now the existing airport of Cusco Velazco Astete is said to be filling up, so another larger airport is planned, at nearby Chinchero. The plan is for a 4,000 metre runway, able to […]
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Heathrow’s bid for a 3rd runway includes doubling air freight – with associated increase in lorries
In Heathrow's proposal for a 3rd runway, it plans to double its cargo capacity. It hopes this will help its bid, due to the financial value of air freight. In the past, some of the air freight industry have said Heathrow ignored their needs. Heathrow is now saying that its key logistics role as a single primary air freight hub for the UK is important for the economy, for export competitiveness, and essential for British importers and exporters to enable them to access key global markets. Some 65% of the UK’s £400bn air freight exports already travel via Heathrow, almost all as belly hold in passenger planes. The airport plans to have its freight area improved with a new cargo railhead, and better road links. Speaking at the Runways UK conference on 2nd June, Simon Earle said local residents consulted by Heathrow were unhappy about the number of HGV lorries. Air pollution is already often in breach of air quality levels. An article by T&E bemoans the resistance to changes and to cuts in polluting emissions by the lorry manufacturers. That does not bode well for Heathrow air quality, with much higher numbers of HGV movements in future.
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American FoI documents show USA is barring John Stewart from the country on allegations it admits are unfounded
On 29th September 2011 John Stewart set off for the USA for a speaking tour. He was arrested and taken off the plane by armed US police at New York JFK airport, under suspicion - in theory - of threatening Barak Obama. But he was held for lengthy questioning. He remains barred from entering the US. Now the Telegraph's David Millward reports that official US documents obtained by The Telegraph under American FoI legislation have raised fresh questions over John's treatment. John spearheaded the campaign to block a 3rd Heathrow runway in 2010, and continues to lead the anti-runway campaign. Documents now show that less than an hour before John’s Delta Airlines flight landed at JFK – it received reports that he had made a threat against the president. The source of this incorrect information remains unknown. It is now clear that the US authorities knew as early as 4.29pm that: “previous reports were unsubstantiated”. But the questioning by the American secret service and FBI continued until around 9.15pm. The authorities decided to deport John, with no reason given, and with no redress.
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GACC calls on all councils around Gatwick to hold public meetings on flight path plans
Gatwick airport is consulting on future changes to flight paths. The consultation is long, complicated and almost incomprehensible to the average lay person. It is very hard indeed for those to be over flown, with no experience of aircraft noise, to understand. The proposals could have a serious impact on many towns and villages around the airport, and potentially affect an area from Guildford to Tunbridge Wells and from Petworth to Sevenoaks. Now GACC has called on all parish councils and town councils around Gatwick airport to hold public meetings to enable residents to understand and discuss the new flight paths proposed by the airport. If the parish or town is not affected by the new flight paths, then GACC suggest that a meeting should be held to discuss the proposals for a new runway. John Byng, Vice chairman of GACC, said: ‘Many people are telling us that the flight path document is difficult to understand. The proposals affect each area differently, so we believe that local meetings are the best answer.’ GACC will be asking for a simpler version of the consultation to be sent to all those under the new flight path, and for maps showing the full length of the new flight paths, not merely below 4,000 feet.
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Mayor of London figures refute Heathrow claims of less aircraft noise with a 3rd runway
Figures published by the London Mayor “blow out of the water” Heathrow’s claim that overall noise levels would fall if a 3rd runway was built, Heathrow campaigners said. The figures, part of Boris Johnson’s report on the Estuary Airport submitted to the Airport’s Commission last week, showed Heathrow’s claims assumed the new runway would be operating at only one-third capacity. They also argued that Heathrow was too optimistic about the introduction of quieter aircraft. The Mayor’s figures, based on a study he commissioned from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), showed if a 3rd runway was built more than 1m people would be impacted by noise, up from 725,000 today. (55 Lden). While Heathrow is trying to claim 50% more planes will mean less noise, in reality the noise will rise. Heathrow still has not found a way to deal with the politically toxic problem of noise. A 3rd runway would mean people would be disturbed in new areas of London and the south-east. Areas from Kensington to Deptford would be within the noise contour.
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What Heathrow can do next following the PR coup of Question Time being held in Terminal 2…….
On Thursday 29th May, the BBC's "Question Time" was filmed in Heathrow's Terminal 2 building, which is due to open on 2nd June. In a blog, John Stewart (Chair of Hacan) takes a wry look at this PR coup of Heathrow in getting the Question Time gig, which can only be part of its runway bid. "Never mind the content. Admire the view. Set in a gleaming new Terminal 2. We are the UK’s airport of the future. The only possible location for a new runway. It is all part of Heathrow’s new PR strategy. " Heathrow's PR campaign is quite slick. John says: "No question Heathrow has upped its game since last time and setting the opponents of a 3rd runway a new challenge." As well as Question Time, there have been the adverts, the billboards and last year a week-long, gushing series from the BBC on the workings of the airport. Not to mention another documentary on the BBC next week looking inside BA. However, Heathrow knows the basic arguments against a new runway have not changed - and all the publicity strategy indicates the airport is not confident of victory.
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Residents arguing Chicago O’Hare noise has hurt property value win assessment appeal on local property tax
New flight paths begun in autumn 2013 to reduce airport delays and increase capacity, have generated record numbers of complaints about aircraft noise around O'Hare. Now several home owners have managed to get the amount they pay in local property taxes cut, because the value of their homes has been reduced - because of the flight path overhead. They have got reductions of around 8 - 12% depending on their location. The cuts in their tax bills are small, in relation to the amount lost in the fall of their property's value. But if the same cuts in tax were awarded to thousands of others, a dent would be felt in the amount of money being raised by the county authorities. A local politician, and academic, wondered whether this would require the taxes of others - not under flight paths - to rise, in order to make up the shortfall. The homeowners who sought the tax reductions are members of the "Fair Allocation in Runways" coalition, which advocates a more equitable distribution of runway use, to share out the noise burden. FAIR did not organize the property tax appeal effort, but they hope it will finally persuade local Mayor Rahm Emanuel to meet the group to discuss the problems. Studies are being done on past data of O'Hare's noise contour maps, house prices, (sale price and listed price) and time on the market before sale, in noise impacted versus non-impacted areas.
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Lydd airport plans first commercial flights to Italy, with its very short runway
Following the closure of Manston Airport with the loss of some 150 jobs, Lydd Airport has announced an expanded service. Its runway is only 1,505 metres, making it too short for many commercial airlines. However, Lydd says it is now starting flights to Italy. Now it has full terminal services including Customs, immigration and Special Branch, Lydd Airport hopes to attract more executive jets, helicopters and light aircraft and cargo. The airport says it now has regular flights to Verona and Naples run by Newmarket Holidays, as well as to Le Touquet, operated by LyddAir. The 3 departures (just 3 flights?) will take place on June 1, 14 and 22. Two of the flights will go to Verona, while one will fly to Naples. The flight on 1st June will be a Boeing 737. This is odd, as the airport's own website says it can only operate 737s without fare-paying passengers. They could only have private passengers, or the flights could be for maintenance. So what is going on? Local campaign group Lydd Airport Action Group (LAAG) have condemned the move, saying on their Facebook page that the aircraft will be “operating at the limit of its specification using the existing short runway.”
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New noise report from CAA deemed to be ‘disappointing’ by HACAN
The CAA's new report, Managing Aviation Noise, suggests how the aviation industry can best manage aircraft noise, in order to reduce and defuse opposition. The CAA appreciates that noise is a very real issue, and that there has been very little improvement in the noise climate around airports since 2000. Speaking on behalf of HACAN, John Stewart welcomed the recognition of this fact, which reflects the experience of residents. By contrast, the aviation industry likes to give the impression that planes are getting very much quieter,and the noise problem is steadily improving. HACAN regards the CAA report overall as ‘disappointing’ and though it contains useful ideas on how to reduce the impact of aircraft noise on residents, it says very little about how the actual number of planes flying over communities can be cut - which is the big issue for local residents. The CAA report recognises that the noise problem has to be dealt with better than it is now, but its focus is on how new capacity can be developed and operated to minimise noise impacts and maximise community benefits, rather than whether the capacity - primarily a new south east runway - should be built.
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CAA urges UK aviation to improve noise performance and engage communities better, so it can continue to grow
The CAA have produced a new report about aircraft noise in the context of airport expansion. They realise that airports and airlines should do all they can to reduce noise. Some of their recommendations are that when looking to expand, airports should do more to ensure local residents see benefits from additional capacity – whether through funding community schemes, direct payments, or tax breaks. Also that airports seeking expansion should significantly increase spending on noise. mitigation schemes to get closer to international competitors – including full insulation for those most affected. Airlines should focus on noise performance when purchasing new aircraft, and airports should structure their landing charges to incentivise airlines to operate so called "cleaner" (lower carbon emissions?), and less noisy flights. The CAA also propose creating a new Airport Community Engagement Forum, bringing together local residents, the aviation industry, policy makers and planners focussed on how (not whether) new airport capacity can be developed and operated with least annoyance, or complaint, from those over flown.
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Green Tribunal cancels environmental clearance of Aranmula Airport (Kerala) so construction work has to stop
Building work has started on a controversial airport at Aranmula, in Kerala, south India. It has been deeply opposed. Now the southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal has cancelled the environmental clearance given to the airport project, which means any construction has to stop. In November 2013 the Ministry of Environment and Forests gave permission for the greenfield airport, based on the recommendations given by its Environmental Appraisal Committee, which had rejected all the local and expert objections. It is now clear that the plans break many laws, including the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2008. Much of the area of the proposed airport is currently paddy fields and wetlands. It also consists of hilly areas and a stream on which local farmers depend for agriculture. The new report says that conversion of paddy fields would impact on the remaining wetlands, disturb the food chain, and accelerate the depletion of fish resources as well as other flora and fauna in the local river basin. Opponents have staged a non-violent "satyagraha" or permanent attendance at the temple, in protest - the 100th day was on 21st May. It has been attended by 100 - 800 people every day. Remarkable.
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Owner of Manston airport has plans to turn it into a “garden city”
Ann Gloag, the owner of Manston, is said to be considering turning the site into a "garden city." She is in talks with local landowners and “other interested parties” about the future of the site, for a mixed-use scheme (including some jobs) with thousands of homes. A garden city proposal could incorporate other schemes in the Thanet area, including Discovery Park. There is already unemployment in the Thanet area of east Kent, and income levels below the national average. Manston has been losing £10,000 a day and is probably no longer viable as an airport - its location is wrong. If the airport site is considered as a garden city, getting planning permission would be easier. George Osborne said in March that urban development corporations, which speed up planning and cut red tape, would be set up to drive forward selected garden cities. The government has announced plans for one at Ebbsfleet, Kent. The area already has problems with water supply, with some of the lowest levels of rainfall in the UK. One commentator says the expression 'Garden City' is a euphemism for a giant housing estate - not something the Thanet district needs.
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Heathrow’s hopes of ever more transfer passengers, to help keep its “global aviation crown”
A Telegraph article (by Natalie Thomas) is loud - as ever - in its calls for another Heathrow runway. The opening on 2nd June is the opportunity for a PR splurge by Heathrow on how it is losing out to middle eastern airports (which are not located in highly populated areas, or have flight paths over highly populated areas, like Heathrow) and how Heathrow is losing its "global aviation crown." The UK is no longer geographically in the right location to be the world's largest hub, and the UK is a democratic country, where major building projects have to be agreed. Natalie is enthusiastic about having as many transfer passengers as possible at Heathrow, to make it maximally profitable. "With a relatively small domestic market, Qatar’s aviation industry is built on international passengers using Doha as a transfer and stopover destination." Quite so. By contrast, London is a major destination in its own right, so the transfer argument is different. The article also enthuses about how the Queen's Terminal will be the home of the Star Alliance group of airlines, some of which "connect Britain to emerging markets" and these will be able to use transfer passengers more effectively" to "improve Heathrow’s competitiveness."
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Report on financial viability of Prestwick Airport to be kept confidential by government
A taxpayer-funded report on the future viability of Prestwick Airport will not be published, to protect commercially confidential information, despite at least £5 million of public money having been pledged to ensure its survival. This has led to accusations that ministers are expecting "blind faith" from the public when it comes to justifying spending taxpayers' money. The report follows a review that took 3 months. The airport has been losing millions of pounds under its previous owners. Although the full document is being withheld, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to report key findings to the parliament's Infrastructure Committee in June. The Scottish Government bought Prestwick for £1 in November 2013. Labour's infrastructure spokesman has said it was unacceptable for the report to be kept secret, and the public deserves to know how the £5 million will be repaid. The CEO of Edinburgh Airport, Gordon Dewar has claimed Government ownership of Prestwick was distorting competition in the Central Belt of Scotland. . Glasgow Airport chiefs are also said to be uneasy over the arrangement. Prestwick lost £9.7 million last year.
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Chicago O’Hare airport new runway & flightpaths creating huge opposition by those now over-flown
Chicago O'Hare airport currently has many runways but not all can be used simultaneously. The airport has been building more, reducing the lengths of others, to get three parallel runways can be used together. There has been a lot of controversy about the plans over many years, with compulsory purchase of land, from residents who did not want to move. There is now huge protest against the noise. A group representing city and suburban home-owners, the Fair Allocation in Runways Coalition (FAiR), is asking the Chicago Aviation Commissioner to resign or for the Mayor to fire her. FAiR say there is "mounting frustration over the lack of response from the Mayor on possible remedies concerning "the ceaseless airplane noise'' since air-traffic patterns were changed last autumn.. The Aviation Commissioner has refused to consider altering the use of runways at night to spread out jet noise instead of concentrating it over one or two air corridors. FAiR says she has made up her mind that there will be no change at O'Hare no matter how many citizens demand change, no matter what solutions are proposed and no matter how devastating the impact of her decisions on families, children and seniors, and even entire neighbourhoods.
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Willie Walsh still wants 3rd runway – but “Heathrow is always going to be a 2-runway airport”
Interview in the Independent on Sunday with Willie Walsh. He wants a 3rd Heathrow runway, though he unwillingly accepts it will not happen. He says he stopped campaigning when “the Conservatives said they were not going to support it." ... "I accept it.... I’ve not done anything since.” Now, he says, there is “not sufficient political will – it’s seen as too risky to support a 3rd Heathrow runway. Even Labour, which did back the idea when in government, has changed. "Ed Miliband was the only member of the Labour Cabinet against the 3rd runway. Now he’s the leader”.... “It’s highly unlikely we will see a 3rd runway. Heathrow is always going to be a 2-runway airport.” We can, Walsh says, dismiss Boris Island for a start. “There’s no support for Boris island other than from Boris.” As for Sir Howard, it does not matter what he concludes, because “whatever he does will be handed over to politicians, none of whom are bound by his recommendations”. So with no new runways we just reach south east airport capacity and UK aviation stops growing? Yes, says Walsh.
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Francis Maude: No to a 2nd Gatwick runway
Francis Maude is MP for Horsham. He says his constituency benefits enormously from its close proximity to Gatwick Airport, which is a key part of the regional and local economy. He is adamant that Gatwick should flourish - but only as a single runway airport. Francis Maude is a supporter of GACC and chairs a group of local authorities and MPs who are all against a 2nd runway. He says another runway would require a new town the size of Crawley to be built in the area. There would be serious implications for already struggling local infrastructure. A 2nd runway would have huge environmental impacts with noise pollution the greatest. There would be the need to build many more houses in an area where local councils are already struggling to meet the targets. The paradox of that being the provision of these houses would ensure that many more families would be subject to the noise pollution. Francis says: "I will continue with other West Sussex MPS to ensure that the voice of local people is heard throughout the decision making process."
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Long-haul first class air travel dwindling despite Etihad and Emirates
First Class seats take up a larger proportion of a plane than economy class seats, and ever more so when the level of luxury involves a flat bed, a bathroom, lounge space etc. Data from CAPA shows that flights using Heathrow have the largest number of First Class seats of any airport in the world. Of the top 10 routes based on the number of First Class seats, Heathrow has 9. Of the top 25 global routes by number of First Class seats, Heathrow has 15. Of the 25 largest first class routes, 10 are trans-Atlantic - only one of these is Frankfurt-Chicago. However, though the levels of luxury being offered by Middle Eastern airlines, for customers to whom money is no object, is rising - overall there is a decline in the number of luxury seats. Some airlines are reducing the number, while a few are increasing. The top 4 routes for luxury travel are Heathrow-New York (by far the largest); 2nd is Heathrow- Dubai; 3rd Heathrow- Chicago; 4th Heathrow-Mumbai. CAPA says growth constraints at Heathrow have seen British Airways strategically grow through a larger share of high-yielding passengers (across premium passengers and premium economy).
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Airports Commission data shows the UK has NO urgent airport capacity crisis
While the endlessly repeated publicity from the airports and airlines, and their lobbyists, has succeeded in getting most people in the UK to believe there is some sort of airport capacity crisis, the reality is different. The Airports Commission has been given the task of looking at this alleged shortage of airport capacity, and understanding it in detail. While the Commission’s interim report in December said the “UK requires one net additional runway in south east by 2030″ they add that the “UK does not have a connectivity crisis today.” The Commission has produced several charts to illustrate this, and says many more could be produced showing how well served the UK is, by different measures. Their charts illustrating short haul destinations by country show the UK far ahead of European rivals; UK 2nd only to Germany on long haul destinations; UK first in Europe for long haul services (now overtaken by Dubai); London far ahead of European rivals by destination for both cities and countries. The UK really is better connected than its rivals, and the Commission say there is “Little evidence of a significant downward trend in UK/London connectivity.”
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Gatwick flight path changes revealed as 12 week airspace consultation launched
Gatwick airport has started another consultation on changes to its flight paths. This will last for 12 weeks and end on 15th August. The earlier "consultation" done by Gatwick, that ended on 15th May did not include any flight path details, which many who attended the exhibitions found frustrating. Gatwick's consultation is complex and not intended to be easy for a non-expert to understand. It is rich in acronyms and jargon, that is not properly explained. One could conjecture that making the consultation so hard to understand is deliberate. At its heart the consultation is about Gatwick managing to get more planes using its current flight paths, with changes to get planes taking off separating earlier, so more planes can use the runway with shorter intervals between them. There remains the issue of whether the noise should be concentrated down narrow routes, or dispersed in "swathes" of several kilometres. The Noise Preferential Routes, for planes below 3,000 feet or 4,000 feet, are meant to be routes where the least noise nuisance is caused. However, planes above 4,000 feet are still a real noise irritation. Gatwick's proposals for more planes on more routes will mean many more people being exposed to a lot more plane noise, either way.
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Boris claims there is a ‘political fix around Gatwick’ while he makes last pitch to Airports Commission for estuary airport
Boris has now submitted his dossier to the Airports Commission, in support of his plan for a massive hub airport in the Thames estuary. The Commission had given Boris extra time in which to address critical questions concerning his plans. Boris claimed that the government was edging towards giving Gatwick the go-ahead, saying there was "a political fix around Gatwick". He said, in all parties: "A lot of money is moving off Heathrow and on to Gatwick. Heathrow is closer to the answer but not deliverable. Gatwick is more deliverable but it is not the right answer." He said, expanding Gatwick was "a sham, a snare, a delusion". Boris hopes his estuary airport could be built for about £25 billion, with £25bn more for surrounding transport infrastructure, and £14 billion more to buy and close Heathrow, which would be redeveloped as a new suburb. Boris makes the usual claims about jobs and growth of the economy, and gives no thought at all to the fact that two new runways cannot be fitted within UK carbon targets. Boris's evidence from the CAA shows a 3rd Heathrow runway would bring the number of people exposed to severe aircraft noise to more than a million. Utterly unacceptable.
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Survey by Medway Council & Kent County Council shows 84% against Thames Estuary airport
Five out of six people would oppose building a new airport in the Thames Estuary if it meant closing Heathrow and other airports, a survey has found. An estuary airport on the Isle of Grain and the closure of Heathrow has been proposed by London Mayor Boris Johnson. The online survey of 2,000 adults from across the UK was commissioned by Medway Council and Kent County Council, which oppose a new Thames Estuary airport. They say that financially, geographically and environmentally the estuary airport project is wrong - and it would be a huge waste of public money. The survey found 38% of those asked supported an estuary airport. But when they were told Heathrow, City and Southend airports could close as a result, (which they would probably have to) the support dropped to 16%, or just over one in six. Boris is due to submit final plans for the estuary airport to the Airports Commission today. The cost of the airport has now risen to £148bn for the Isle of Grain option. Boris wants a city of 190,000 homes on the Heathrow site, if the airport shuts [which is utterly unlikely].
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More flights from Manchester to USA taking pressure off south east airports
Flights by American Airlines have started from Manchester to Charlotte in North Carolina, and will run every day until the end of September. Airport and airline bosses heralded the flight as a boost for both the airport and Manchester. The airline says “Manchester has been a hugely important city for American Airlines for many years and we are thrilled to add this flight to Charlotte.... It will bring in around 200 passengers every day.....Next year, we hope to run them for longer. In terms of American Airlines, we have a massive presence in the US and Charlotte is our second biggest hub. ....This is putting Manchester in line with our other destinations like Madrid and Rome.” American Airlines already flies from Manchester to Chicago, New York and Philadelphia. The airline CEO said most passengers are expected to originate from America - looking to fly into the north of England."The biggest growth in airlines is down to people visiting friends and family, and Manchester has a catchment area of 22m." More international flights from the regional airports mean less pressure to expand airports in the south east. Or to build a new south east runway. Manchester's 2nd runway is hardly used.
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Southend airport had many more passengers in 2013 than in 2012, but much less profit
Southend Airport's parent company Stobart Group has revealed earnings from its aviation division fell from £400,000 to £100,000 last year. Passenger numbers grew 38% to over one million and a newly completed terminal extension raised its capacity to 5 million. To stimulate further growth, the airport has entered into a new partnership with low-cost carrier Flybe to launch a new airline, Stobart Air, which will use two Flybe aircraft to launch 6 new routes to Europe (Antwerp, Caen, Groningen, Maastricht, Munster and Rennes). Stobart said "..there is still work to be done to improve profitability with renewed focus on revenue per passenger and controlling costs." The company said it was continuing to develop plans for Carlisle Lake District Airport, but these remain dogged by ongoing challenges around planning. Southend airport had 9,476 air transport movements in 2013, which was an increase of 30.4% on 2012, and it had 969,940 passengers, an increase of 57.2% over 2012. So 57% more passengers in 2013 but 75% fall in profit. Aviation is an odd industry.
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Thanet council asked by airport workers to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order for Manston Airport
Thanet council says it cannot yet say whether or not it would have the power to acquire Manston airport through a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). The supporters of Manston, and the employees who have lost their jobs, want the council to do so. They delivered a petition to Thanet council’s offices in Margate, urging the local authority to issue a CPO. The council has confirmed the deputy leader had requested an officer report to set out the council's options. The report will consider if a CPO would be a viable consideration, given the extensive costs and liabilities for the taxpayer that this would involve. Thanet council has said supports activity that retains the existing footprint of the airport as an airport. It has downplayed reports that the site was to be redeveloped for housing, though this is thought to be likely. The council leader will meet the airport's owner, Ann Gloag, in the coming weeks to discuss the airport's future.
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Heathrow chairman, Sir Nigel Rudd, hushes hubbub over 24/7 airport comment by Heathrow board member
A Heathrow Airport Board member, Akbar Al Baker, recently said Heathrow should have 24 hour flights, planes should be allowed to fly all night, and that Brits make an "excessive" fuss about aircraft noise. This has hugely embarrassed Heathrow, which has been trying hard to claim a 50% increase in flights will result in less noise ... square that one. Now, in response to the awkward and off-message remarks by Al Baker, Sir Nigel Rudd, chairman of Heathrow, said: “Mr Al-Baker’s views are his own and do not represent the views or policy of the Heathrow board or executive committee. We recognise that adding the flights Britain needs for growth must come hand in hand with reducing aircraft noise for residents. Round the clock flying from London is not an option. We take the concerns of local communities very seriously and have never argued for 24-hour flying.” Anti expansion campaigners were highly critical of the airport, and its need to urgently rush out reassuring comments due to the embarrassment caused by Mr Al-Baker putting his foot in it. Question is why Mr Al Baker was not aware that this, though revealing, was not a helpful or acceptable comment to make, from Heathrow's point of view.
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Heathrow Airport Board member, Akbar Al Baker, says Heathrow should have 24 hour flights
One of the Board members of Heathrow Airport is Akbar Al Baker, who is the CEO of Qatar Airways and led the development of the new Doha airport. He is on the Board because Qatar Holdings bought a 20% stake in Heathrow in 2012. He has caused a storm of protest after claiming, with stunning insensitivity and demonstating a woeful lack of understanding of British democracy, that Heathrow should have 24 hour flights - ignoring the well-being of those overflown. The benefit would be that his companies would be more profitable. Akbar Al Baker said Britons make an “excessive” fuss about noise levels from aircraft flying over their homes" and home owners living under flight paths “wouldn’t even hear the aircraft” after a while." He appears not to understand that in Europe, unpopular and damaging major developments cannot just be steamrollered through, as they perhaps can be in the Gulf States. Mr Al Baker thinks European airports should open 24 hours a day if they want to compete with the emerging Gulf hubs in Dubai and Doha. Though rapidly denied by Heathrow, which distanced itself from Mr Al Baker's comments, it is indicative of a way of thought which people may fear is prevalent on the Heathrow board.
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Over 4,000 take part in Frankfurt’s 100th protest evening – including supporters from Heathrow and Gatwick
The 4th runway at Frankfurt airport was opened in October 2011. The flightpaths for this runway overfly thousands of residents in the Frankfurt, many of whom had not previously been overflown. They suddenly found the noise of aircraft overhead every few minutes, relentlessly (day after day, week after week) for most of the day intolerable. Other areas were also affected by changes to flight paths. Ever since the opening, the people of Frankfurt have absolutely refused to accept this, and have campaigned continuously and relentlessly. They hold unique and remarkable protests, almost every Monday night, in the airport terminal. These are attended by well over 1,000 people, every time. On 19th May, the 100th airport terminal protest was held, with around 4,000 (maybe more) protesters. Some campaigners from the Heathrow and Gatwick campaigns went out (by train) to show solidarity and share this remarkable achievement with their German friends. John Stewart, Chair of HACAN and of AirportWatch, addressed the protest, saying they were making aviation history, and the tenacity, persistence and determination of the opposition to Frankfurt flights is increasingly a matter of concern to the aviation industry.
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“Gatwick Obviously” adverts on the tube not merely subvertised but now substituted
Gatwick airport has produced a huge number of adverts, on bill boards, on underground stations, and on underground trains. The campaign must have cost a vast amount of money. The theme of the adverts has been "Gatwick Obviously" in their attempt to influence first the thinking of the Airports Commission, and then also the next Government - which will have to decide what to do with the Commission's report after summer/autumn 2015. The Gatwick adverts have suffered from being subvertised, but on Monday 19th around 200 on the underground were replaced with substitutes - by Plane Stupid. The temptation must just have been too strong ....
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GACC says the public misled by Gatwick’s “consultation” – with far higher figures in airport’s submission to Airports Commission
GACC (the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign) has now studied the new runway plans announced by Gatwick Airport Ltd on 13 May. Brendon Sewill, chairman of GACC said: "They are horrendous - much larger in scale than in the recent consultation. The proposals will so infuriate local people that they will be determined to oppose the runway scheme at every stage. Any hopes that the airport may have had of building a new runway on time will have disappeared." The new plans are set out in a 3,200 page document that has been sent to the Airports Commission but which has not been published. The Gatwick press summary shows that the new airport would be bigger than anything previously envisaged. The maximum number of passengers per year has gone up to 97 million compared to a maximum of 87 million in the consultation. That would make Gatwick much bigger than Heathrow today (72 million in 2013), and nearly three times as big as Gatwick today (35 million). The new plans show utter disdain for the 6,000 people who have visited the runway exhibitions during the past months "consultation", and for the thousands more who have responded online. It is clear that Gatwick’s owners had already decided on their preferred option. GACC has been proved 100% correct it was a phoney consultation.
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IATA economist warns expected growth in air travel “major challenge” to carbon reduction (ie. not possible)
Air transport has proved to be one of the fastest growing industries over the past 20 years, with passenger traffic nearly tripling in terms of revenue-passenger-kilometres (RPKs) and increasing at an average of 5.4% per year since 1994. However, though there have been improvements in fuel use per revenue-tonne-kilometre (RTK), the industry’s carbon emissions increasing by 150% since 1994. With a similar rate of increase in air traffic expected over the next 20 years, the emissions can only go up. The increase in air travel had been helped by a halving in its cost over the period. The future cost of jet fuel is unknown but IATA hopes the price of jet fuel will be stable, and the cost of flying will get even lower - justifying huge expansion predictions. IATA says curbing demand for air travel is not realistic. ( Why ?) IATA knows its aim of so called "carbon neutral growth" cannot be achieved, but hopes ICAO will come up with something to enable aviation emissions to be traded, so the industry can buy carbon cuts in other sectors, while it continues to emit more.
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Lydd Airport Action Group’s Appeal unsuccessful so Lydd expansion can go ahead
Lydd Airport Action Group (LAAG) is disappointed that they have been unable to quash the government’s decision to grant Lydd Airport permission to extend its runway and build a new terminal to support a throughput of 500,000 passengers per annum. LAAG and the RSPB both challenged the government's decision. Their Section 288 Appeal focused heavily on process, not the merits of the facts. The impact of allowing the expansion of Lydd airport is likely to be highly negative for many people in the area, not to mention wildlife. The airport development will lead to the introduction of large aircraft, such as the Boeing 737, taking off and landing within 60 seconds flight time of the Dungeness Nuclear power complex. No other regional airport in Europe, and possibly the world, will be located as close to a nuclear power complex. LAAG contends this development will result in the possibility of an aircraft accident at the Dungeness Nuclear power complex. LAAG believes Lydd Airport’s expansion is not in the public interest. RSPB says the area round the airport is of "exceptional" importance to birds and the expansion would damage unique habitats on Romney Marsh.
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CityJet plane makes emergency landing at London City airport as section of wing became partly detached
A CitryJet flight from London City airport to Florence, carrying more than 60 people had to turn back after take-off because part of its wing became partly detached in mid-flight. The pilot of the Avro RJ85 plane had to abort the CityJet flight and circle above the Thames Estuary [burning off fuel?] before landing again at London City airport with a damaged wing. After take-off at about 7.25am today, passengers heard a loud bang and a section of the left wing, about six foot long, partly detached from the plane. The section is a cowling, made of plastic or fibreglass, which would have come down if the rods holding it had broken. The piece detached is aerodynamic, not vital for flight, but there could have been worse problems if it had fully fallen off. This is yet another incident of a plane with technical problems landing at London airports, flying miles - damaged - over highly populated areas. There will be an investigation into why the rods broke, and the section came away. Only 6 weeks ago the engine of a Swiss plane ‘blew up’ on runway just before take-off at London City airport
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Heathrow and Gatwick battle it out in the media, but is either environmentally deliverable?
Gatwick and Heathrow have been trying to get the best publicity they can for their runway, while simultaneously having a dig at each other. But does either deliver on environmental issues? Many of the new ideas, such as noise compensation schemes and a congestion charge, aim to tackle these impacts but much of what has been proposed either misses the key questions or makes impressive promises on issues that are outside the control of airports. Heathrow's only contribution towards cutting carbon emissions appears to be using some renewable energy in its new terminal and incentivising efficient aircraft. They remain silent on inconvenient issues. Giving the go-ahead to any of the runway options would mean UK carbon emissions would have to be cut elsewhere, either though imposing limits on regional airports, or expecting other sectors and industries to deliver near impossible emissions reductions. UK aviation has been given a very lax emissions target of only having to keep its CO2 emissions to 2005 levels by 2050. The assumption that this means an increase of 60% in passengers, or 55% in fligths depends on carbon cuts in line with the rate of growth. It is by no means clear those carbon efficiencies will, or can, be made.
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Belfast boy wants alternative home for geese facing cull for safety of Belfast City Airport planes
A 10-year-old boy - Jack McCormick - has appealed to Belfast's Lord Mayor to have geese, considered to be posing a threat to low-flying aircraft, moved to another park. The Lord Mayor has promised to raise the issues in a meeting with George Best Belfast City Airport. "I am an animal lover and would hate to think of anything bad happening to the grey geese at the park," Jack wrote: "My papa takes me to a great park in Gilnahirk .... It is big, but it has no geese or any animals. Why not move some of your geese from Victoria Park to the park at Gilnahirk? I would make sure that they were well-looked after. If you can't move them to Gilnahirk, could you not move them to other parks around Belfast?" The authorities prick the eggs so they don't develop. Jack said (children aren't stupid!): "Last year I noticed that there wasn't that many goslings but this year I'm hoping there will be an increase," he said. "I don't want any of them to die just because of being near an airport. To be fair, the geese were there first, and then the airport was built there."
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Heathrow still has a mountain to climb in persuading politicians about its 3rd runway
Writing in a blog, the day Heathrow submitted their runway plans to the Airports Commission, John Stewart (Chair of Hacan, the community group for people affected by the noise from Heathrow flight paths) says Heathrow still has a mountain to climb. Their revised 3rd runway plan shows they understand the need to pull out all the stops to make it politically deliverable. They appreciate that unless there are enough “goodies” for voters living under the flight paths and around Heathrow, governments will continue to be reluctant to commit to a 3rd runway. It is the proposals to deal with noise and community destruction that most politicians will be interested in. The view in the "Heathrow villages" of the offers of slightly higher than necessary payments to those facing compulsory purchase of their homes is that it will take much more than that to quell opposition. Heathrow does now acknowledge that aircraft noise is a problem outside the discredited 57 noise contour but few are really persuaded there would be less noise with 260,000 more flights per year. Whether Heathrow can do enough to persuade politicians that a3rd runway is politically deliverable is still open to real doubt.
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M25 could become Britain’s first 14-lane motorway (with 600 metre tunnel under runway) in Heathrow expansion plans
If Heathrow got its way and somehow managed to get permission for a 3rd runway north west of the existing two, the M25 is set to become Britain's first 14-lane motorway. Heathrow wants taxpayers to bankroll £1.2 billion of road and rail improvements including a 600m motorway tunnel under the new runway. ( Earlier estimates were £3-5 billion, according to Colin Matthews, at public meetings). The M25 would be widened to 14 lanes on a two-mile section from Junction 14, next to Terminal 5, to the junction with the M4. The proposal is likely to provoke a furious reaction from environmental campaigner s and from road users and motoring organisations. Heathrow said the 600 metre tunnel would be built in parallel without disruption to the present motorway – a claim Gatwick said was unbelievable. Stephen Glaister, of the RAC Foundation, warned: "Even a day or two's disruption on that vital stretch of road is a big issue. " Others have commented about the economic cost of delays caused by years of motorway disruption and hold-ups. Also the terrorism danger of a huge tunnel for vast numbers of cars, if a bomb was set off.
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Gatwick submits its 2nd runway plans to Airports Commission – little detail published, but loads of spin
Gatwick is submitting its proposal for a 2nd runway to the Airports Commission. Unlike Heathrow it has not produced a glossy version for the public, but says it has produced a 3,200 page "evidence-based" report. They claim it would produce more economic benefit to the UK and not cost the taxpayer anything. By contrast the KPMG report done in December for the Airports Commission said it might cost the taxpayer up to £17.7 billion. Gatwick claims: "The economic benefit to the UK of this enhanced competition will be £40 billion more than Heathrow’s 3rd runway." Gatwick tries to make out their runway is an obvious choice, and say of their rival Heathrow: "Why tunnel part of the busiest motorway in Europe – the M25 - causing serious traffic disruption, when you can build on land already set aside for expansion?" They say: "The Gatwick proposal is best placed to align with key future trends - including continued market share gains by Low Cost Carriers, the spread of new technology hub-busting aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, and the rapid rise of new hubs in the Middle East and Far East." Loads of positive spin, absolutely ignoring all the negatives associated with building an airport the size of Heathrow in semi-rural Sussex.
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“Heathrow Hub” submitting their 3rd runway plans to Airports Commission
On the same day as Heathrow airport published their promotion document for the public on their 3rd runway plan, "Heathrow Hub" have also put out a press release about their scheme, which they will also submit to the Airports Commission this week. The idea is to build another runway, at the western end of the existing north runway. Heathrow airport itself is not keen on this option, partly as a runway exactly in line with another is not a layout used at any other airport, and partly as it gives no chance for half a day of noise respite for those overflown. Heathrow knows the respite periods are of huge value to those suffering from aircraft noise. However, Heathrow Hub say their plan could expand Heathrow's theoretical capacity by approximately 220,000 flights per year, and it would create approximately 19,000 jobs ( Heathrow says theirs would create 100,000 jobs !) They say their scheme has the benefit of few homes being destroyed, and planes landing 2 miles further west being a little higher (so slightly less noisy) on approach over London.
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What Heathrow’s 3rd runway proposal says on noise (not very convincing)
Heathrow's publicity document on its 3rd runway plans has quite a lot on noise, as Heathrow realises that the noise generated by its aircraft is a key political topic, and is perhaps the main issue that would stop the runway. Having a new runway would mean the number of annual flights could increase by up to 260,000 per year (compared to the current 470,000 or so). This would inevitably create a huge amount more noise. But by only considering the people within the loudest noise contours (noise averaged over many hours each day) - the 57dBALeq countour and the 55dbLden contour - and not those who experience aircraft noise, but not quite as loudy, Heathrow claims fewer people will experience noise. This is manifestly not the truth. There may be slightly fewer, by massaging the figures, in the noisiest contours. But there will be many more experiencing aircraft noise, if not at the most intense levels. Already people miles from the airport, outside any current contour, are troubled and disturbed by aircraft noise. The document provides various maps and charts to try and make their point. The concept of respite periods is key in Heathrow's attempts to win over the over-flown public, and those yet to be over-flown.
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What Heathrow’s 3rd runway proposal says on carbon emissions and air quality (very little)
Just taking the parts on carbon emissions and air quality from Heathrow's promotional document for its 3rd runway, the claims can be seen to be ambitious, or perhaps unrealistic. Tellingly they forget to mention carbon emissions in the press release, other than to say there is one of their 10 "commitments" (no indication how these are to be enforced) that they will "Keep CO2 emissions within UK climate change targets". This appears to be largely on hopes of more efficient operation, plus planes as yet unbuilt, carbon trading systems as yet not in existence, and new fuels (they don't actually mention biofuels), which also do not exist. On local air quality standards, which the Heathrow area currently often breaches, Heathrow says it wants a local congestion charge to reduce vehicle journeys, a lot more public transport (paid for by taxpayer?) and another commitment (enforcement?) to "Increase the proportion of passengers using public transport to access Heathrow to more than 50%". They also depend on road vehicle engines in future emitting less NO2 than at present.
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Heathrow publishes glossy 48 page document promoting its north-west 3rd runway plans
Heathrow airport has released a glossy 48 page document, for the public, promoting its north-west runway option. The document is very high on spin, aspiration, laudable future hopes and intentions of all sorts - but very thin on any detail of how these might realistically happen. Wishful thinking, writ large. For instance, on carbon emission, there are hopes of huge cuts through aircraft not yet invented, fuels also not yet in existence, and carbon trading - not yet in existence. Heathrow makes 10 commitments, but gives no detail about time-scale or who would enforce these commitments, or what would be the penalty for failing to deliver them. There are hopes of better air quality near the airport, 100,000 new jobs, £100 billion (no time scale given - probably over years ....) to the UK economy, and a lot on listening to the public. There are some very carefully chosen sentences about the increase in aircraft noise and numbers affected. Heathrow says it will reduce aircraft noise etc ...."by encouraging the world’s quietest aircraft to use Heathrow, routing aircraft higher over London, delivering periods with no aircraft overhead and allocating £250m to provide noise insulation." .
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Gatwick chairman says 2nd runway would benefit UK by just £667 million per year
The day before Heathrow will publicise its runway plans, the Chairman of Gatwick has done his bit for Gatwick's PR. He has told the Telegraph that he claims the economic benefits of choosing Gatwick's 2nd runway plans over Heathrow expansion would be £40 billion over the next 60 years. (That is a very tiny sum indeed per year. It is about £0.67 billion ( ie.£667 million) /year benefit .... about £13 per passenger ( with 50 million passengers)? The alleged Gatwick benefit is massively eclipsed by the tourism deficit in 2012 of some £13.8 billion per year link to which Gatwick contributes heftily). Sir Roy says (which is quite true) that Heathrow is a “politically toxic” monopoly and he obligingly sets out a lot of good reasons why a new runway should not, and cannot, be built at Heathrow. Heathrow retaliates by saying their new runway would make air fares cheaper ... on and on it goes. Who can envy Sir Howard Davies his job? Sir Roy McNulty of course conveniently ignores the estimate by KPMG link for the Airports Commission that a new Gatwick runway would need as much as £17.7 billion in public funding, much of it stumped up by people who do not even fly, or use Gatwick. Kinda negates the alleged benefits.... .
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Heathrow plans £550m sweetener which it hopes will head off opposition to 3rd runway
Heathrow airport says 950 homes in the Harmondsworth area would be demolished (compulsory purchase) if it got its north-west 3rd runway option. The media are talking about Heathrow offering substantial compensation for 750 homes. Link Heathrow is saying it will also pay large sums for sound insulation from a £550m fund and it would spend at least £250m on soundproofing homes and schools – compared with only £30m it has spent n the last 20 years. If Heathrow paid out at the level Gatwick has offered - £1,000 equivalent to Band A Council Tax - to each household within the 57dB contour, it would be about £245 million per year. However much sound insulation is put in, or however many financial sweeteners, the noise is still heard if the windows are open or if people are outdoors, eg in the garden. Heathrow is still trying to work out which is less unpopular - giving more noise compensation to fewer people, or less compensation to more. John Stewart, Chair of Hacan said of Heathrow's money offer: "Their newfound generosity is a clear sign that they are still not confident that they can get a third runway approved, agreed and built."
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Heathrow hopes to buy off Harmondsworth with about £320,000 per property demolished
Heathrow is to spend hundreds of millions of pounds in an attempt to buy off local opposition to a proposed 3rd runway, with plans to use a massive new fund to compensate homeowners and insulate homes and public buildings against aircraft noise. Heathrow knows noise is a key reason why its runway is politically toxic. It also knows the bad publicity of destroying Harmondsworth and Sipson, and making other areas un-liveable. Now - publicising its runway plan tomorrow - Heathrow is proposing to pay the market price, unblighted, of homes plus 25% and the costs of legal fees, moving costs and stamp duty of buying a new home. For a £250,000 property, homeowners would receive £312,500 compensation, plus £7,500 stamp duty costs and legal fees. [About £320,000 each - for a £250,000 house. ie £304 million for the 950 houses Heathrow would demolish]. This of course does not cover homes nearby, where life would become unpleasant. Heathrow is planning another public consultation in July to decide how the money should be divided up. There might also be more money for noise insulation in areas beyond the usual"noise contour" (57dB) and help for schools.
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Heathrow ads plastering English county names over the globe deemed bad taste (at best)
Heathrow has a new variant of its advert, showing a map of the world, and a slogan implying that Heathrow is essential for travel anywhere outside the UK. The latest variant of the map is odd. In place of the names of countries, Heathrow has replaced them with the names of UK counties, or even things like "M4 corridor" (repeated many times), "The City", Canary Wharf (many times) and the Western Isles, as well as "Devonshire" (sic), Cornwall, Shetland etc etc. Much of central Africa is shown as "South Yorkshire" and much of South America as "Cambridgeshire". India is portrayed as "Clwyd". And so on. This is intended - by the bright ad-man responsible - to indicate "If we want growth in the future, we need to keep Britain firmly on the map." That, it says, means Heathrow. However, there is concern about the colonial over-tones of the advert, and it is being criticised as insensitive and patronising. One commentator writes: "I’m sure all they wanted to do was create a quirky advert with a patriotic theme. Basically, they missed the mark."
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Heathrow suggests congestion charge for vehicles – to try and keep within air quality limits
Heathrow will announce its north- west runway plan on Tuesday 13th May. They have no interest in the Jock Lowe Heathrow Hub option. Heathrow is aware that as well as noise, air pollution is a show - stopper issue for their hopes of a new runway. Hence they are now suggesting to the Airports Commission that there should be a congestion charge for people travelling to Heathrow by car - after the public transport has been set up (largely at public expense). Some of the money raised may go towards public transport. Heathrow is trying to make out there will not only be no more noise caused by a 3rd runway, but no more road vehicles than now. They depend on emissions standards for NOx for new cars becoming tighter in future. Expansion of Heathrow would mean massive road congestion in the area. The Standard reports that Heathrow is moving its planned north-west runway slightly south, in order to avoid the M25 and M4 junction. To make way for the new runway to the north west of the airport, Heathrow will build a 600-metre tunnel taking traffic under the M25. A tunnel would run alongside the motorway - and be part-funded by Government.
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French airports delay the fight against atmospheric NOx pollution from APUs
The yearly report for 2013 by the French Authority for Airport Nuisance Control (ACNUSA) points out the delay of French airports on controlling air pollution. The Authority suggests that French airports improve their air quality ot meet European standards. ACNUSA wants restriction of the use of Auxillary Power Units (APUs) that consume a lot of aviation fuel, and produce a lot of air pollution, while planes are on the ground, as well as being very noise. The Directorate General for Civil Aviation now has 6 months to inform the authorities about its decision on APUs. There are other means by which aircraft ventilation systems etc can be operated on the ground, other than by use of APUs - eg by fixed electrical ground power. Heathrow airport's air quality strategy shows how attempts are being made to cut the amount of NOx produced by APUs and they say this cut the amount of NOx emitted by 35 tonnes between 2008 and 2010.
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Boris spends £90,000 on architects to draw up plans to build over Heathrow site
Boris Johnson , through TfL, is paying 3 architectural firms £90,000 to draw up plans for new homes on the site of Heathrow airport despite there being no plans to demolish it and City Hall having no control over its future. The Mayor wants to replace Heathrow with a new airport in the Thames Estuary though his schemes have neither the support of the UK coalition Government, which controls aviation policy, nor many major airlines. The Airports Commission is currently considering whether a Thames estuary airport is sufficiently viable to be consulted on in the autumn (along with Heathrow and Gatwick options ). Despite the lack of control over aviation policy and without backing for his scheme, Boris has instructed TfLto draw up proposals for increasing runway capacity. Each architect firms will be paid £30,000 for their work , to "provide designs that cover several options for redevelopment of a site that could potentially support 90,000 new jobs and provide homes for 190,000 people.” Up to April 2014 Boris had spent £3 million on promoting his estuary schemes , and that then rose to £5 million. .
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Local elections 2014: City Airport focus of hustings for prospective Newham councillors
London City Airport will be the focus of an election hustings on 12th May, 10 days before the local council election in Newham. The husting will be attended by representatives of all parties standing in Newham. The expansion of City Airport is under consideration, with a decision due to be made by Newham Council this summer. John Stewart, the chairman of HACAN East, which has oranised the meeting, said: “There is much concern about the continuing expansion of the airport, not just amongst Newham residents but much further afield. The large jet planes now using the airport are causing noise problems for people living many miles from the airport. This public meeting will be a chance to question budding politicians.” The hustings will take place at Britannia Village Hall, West Silvertown, at 7.30pm
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John Holland-Kaye takes over from Colin Matthews as Heathrow CEO on 1st July
Heathrow Airport has confirmed John Holland-Kaye, its development director, will take over as chief executive on 1st July from Colin Matthews, who is leaving the company after six years in the job. Mr Holland-Kaye, aged 49, has taken an increasingly prominent role over the past year in Heathrow's campaign for a 3rd runway. He has also been overseeing Heathrow's new Terminal 2 building, which will open to passengers next month. He commented: “My aspiration is to improve Heathrow as much in the next five years as we have in the last five years.” Mr Holland-Kaye's main task will be to persuade policymakers that a third Heathrow runway is politically deliverable as the airport competes against its rival, Gatwick,to get a new runway. He must know that he’ll have a real prospect of a knighthood if he gets the runway. Details of their runway submission to the Airports Commission are due to be publicised on 13th May.
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Kent’s Manston Airport to close on 15th May
The owners of Manston Airport say it is to close on 15th May with the loss of up to 150 jobs as a buyer has not been found. The bid by a US firm, RiverOak Investment, was rejected a few days ago, and another bid fell through in April. An airport spokesman said there had not been "a viable alternative" to allow the airport to remain open. The spokesman said Manston had also considered business proposals put forward by staff but those would have still required losses to be subsidised. The local MP, Sir Roger Gale, said the airport should have negotiated over the offers. Individual consultation will now take place with all staff members "who will be supported through this process." In March, the airport said it was losing £10,000 a day. Several airlines have pulled out, including KLM, which ran two daily flights to Amsterdam. Local campaigners keep hoping this is not the end yet, and they are trying to keep fighting "to the bitter end."
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After 2 winters Southend Airport has only now applied for a permit to discharge de-icer into local brook
The local paper has revealed that Southend Airport has been discharging de-icer into Prittle Brook for more than 2 winters. The airport’s owner, the Stobart Group, has only now applied for a permit from the Environment Agency to discharge up to 79,188 gallons (360 cubic metres) of “trade effluent consisting of deicer”into the waterway every day. Stobart said the application is for surface water running off in the winter. The local Castle Point Wildlife Group are concerned that even if diluted, the de-icer may harm the natural environment. John Fuller, coordinator of the South East Essex Friends of the Earth, said: “We are very concerned about this in case it has implications on human health. We understand the EA deems it within tolerable limits..... The fact that it has been going on for 2 years shows the controls on the airport are woefully inadequate.” Local fishermen are concerned about the potential pollution of their catches, which are not tested for this sort of pollution. Stobart claim the Environment Agency has monitored the situation and found "little or no impact on water courses and wildlife.” The EA will take comments on this application till 22nd May.
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Heathrow launches new “Webtrak My Neighbourhood” website to show flight path use over time periods
Heathrow has launched a new online tool allowing people to track the routes planes fly into and out of the airport. It is called "WebTrak My Neighbourhood", and is a different variant of the existing "Webtrak" that has existed for some years. The new "My Neighbourhood" version shows landings (red) and take-offs (green) and gives a % of the amount of flights that have used that flightpath, over the past month, or quarter, or year. It also shows what % of hours have been plane-free during that time. The "i" information button on each flight path gives more information, such as the breakdown of flights over a day, showing which hours were busiest. Heathrow says it is the 2nd airport (after Eindhoven) to use the technique. The airport hopes it will help keep residents better informed about their operations. It will also help people avoid living in areas which have a lot of flights. However, though the information is welcome, it does not actually have any effect on reducing the noise. Heathrow has the unenviable task of trying to persuade the public that the planes using an extra runway will, somehow, not mean any more aircraft noise ....
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Emergency landing (May 2013 – cowls flew off) to cost BA ££s thousands in compensation
BA has backed down and compensated some of the hundreds of passengers whose flights were delayed when one of its Airbus A319 aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing at Heathrow almost a year ago. Flight BA762 to Oslo was forced to return to Heathrow (flying over thousands of Londoners en route, with an engine on fire) shortly after take-off when both engine cowls blew off, causing a fire in the right engine. Passengers were forced to evacuate via escape slides and the aircraft blocked one of the two runways on May 24th 2013 last year. BA initially denied passengers affected were due compensation, claiming the incident was due to exceptional circumstances beyond its control and therefore European regulation EC261 exempted it from compensating passengers. Now an investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch revealed the fault was due to human error. Retaining latches, which hold the engine doors in place, had not been closed. BA has to pay compensation, of between €250 and €600 per person.
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Heathrow’s Populus opinion polls continue to show around a third opposed to runway
Heathrow airport has spent a lot of effort and money on trying to persuade people in government and in positions of influence that there is public backing for a 3rd runway, and that people in boroughs near Heathrow are likely to want to vote for pro- expansion local councillors. However, the polling results do not show any significant increase in support for a 3rd runway now, than there was back in 2007. The poll that is quoted by Heathrow was done in March 2014 and shows 48% net in favour, 34% net opposed and 18% neither support nor oppose. The figures are broadly similar from polls in November 2013 or May 2013. A Populus poll in 2007 showed 50% supported a 3rd runway and 30% were against. About a third of people stubbornly refuse to back expansion at Heathrow. Heathrow knows that unless they can shift opinion in the next year, the odds against a third runway being built will lengthen…….whatever recommendation the Airports Commission comes up with in summer 2015.
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Gatwick 2nd runway aircraft noise could threaten Hever Castle – it harms the visitor experience
Hever Castle - the childhood home of Anne Boleyn - near Edenbridge in Kent fears increased aircraft noise, from Gatwick planes, could deter people from visiting the attraction. The chief executive of Hever, Duncan Leslie, said: "If they increased aeroplanes I would be surprised if this business survived long term." The noise is already bad, though Gatwick is 21 miles away, and a 2nd runway could make the situation worse. Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife, lived at Hever, which dates back to 1270. The relentless aircraft noise, with planes some 3 - 4,000 feet overhead, detracts from the experience of Hever, and for much of the day with a westerly wind, there is a plane about once a minute. Alastair McDermid, Gatwick's airports commission director, said a new runway would be to the south of the existing one and would not necessarily increase noise at Hever. Gatwick is holding a consultation at present, and has done 16 exhibitions about it. However, they have chosen not to give any details on flight paths, which has caused a lot of annoyance.
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Woodland Trust highlights loss of 3 areas of ancient woodland for Gatwick runway
Though much of the area that would be flattened and covered in concrete and tarmac for a 2nd Gatwick runway - and associated building - would be fields and grassland, there are also three areas of ancient woodland. The Woodland Trust has assessed the woods that are threatened and found that they are significant and have important local biodiversity value. The current Gatwick consultation on its runway options (there is only one of the options that the airport wants, and the consultation has no proper way for respondents to say they oppose any new runway) barely recognises the impact a new runway will have on this irreplaceable habitat. The fact it will also wipe out the last remaining ecological network for wildlife around the whole of the south side of the airport is ignored. The Woodland Trust is urging people to respond to the consultation, either by just saying NO to any of the options, or giving more detail in the response boxes to reflect the proposed destruction of these valuable bits of high quality woodland.
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Gatwick Runway Exhibitions a huge success – for the opposition!
Gatwick Airport Ltd have held 15 exhibitions to explain their runway proposals to the public. Over 6,000 people in total will have attended but, according to local community group, GACC, some 75-80% of those visiting the exhibitions were opposed to any new runway. GACC volunteers manned a ‘picket line’ outside each exhibition, handing out leaflets and car stickers, and recruiting new members. According the GACC chairman Brendon Sewill, "people were coming out of the hall horrified at what they had seen, and queuing up to join GACC." People were frustrated by the lack of key information on aspects of the plans, such as noise and supporting infrastructure. At Edenbridge the highly respected and respectable MP for Tonbridge, Sir John Stanley, organised a mass demonstration against aircraft noise and against any new runway. At Horsham around 200 people marched through the town to protest at the new flight path over Warnham and north Horsham, and to oppose any new runway. The Gatwick exhibitions have been helpful, in that they have alerted the public and have demonstrated the strength of feeling against the proposals.
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Gatwick runway opponents march through Horsham
More than 120 people marched through Horsham town centre on Saturday, May 3, to protest against a new runway at Gatwick Airport and new flight paths. They set off from the carfax to the Drill Hall, where Gatwick was holding one of its 16 public exhibitions, showing the public the runways plans, some of which they will be submitting to the Airports Commission by 16th May. Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE), with the help of Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) and Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Sussex, organised the walk through Horsham town centre and their attendance outside the exhibition. CAGNE and GACC have between them had a presence at all of the exhibitions, and given out information to those attending on why they believe firmly that there should not be a new runway - due to the social and environmental damage it would do the area, for miles around the airport in all directions.
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Heathrow ‘misses the point’ in claiming connectivity benefits from new rail lines, yet unbuilt
Heathrow will claim, in its runway submission to the Airports Commission on 16th May, that it can offer the shortest journey times (compared to Gatwick or the Thames estuary) to cities such as Sheffield, Bristol and Manchester and will do the most to bring growth to those regions by connecting them to international markets. Heathrow is arguing that the arrival of HS2, Crossrail, upgrades to London Underground’s Piccadilly line and the proposed rail link to the Great Western line will make access to the expanded airport much better, even with a 3rd runway. Heathrow will factor the rail links into its plans, even though only Crossrail is under construction and the other lines are only at various stages of planning. HS2 was voted through the Commons this week, but the plan to link it to the airport is on hold. HACAN says the airport’s owners have missed the point on this, as all the rail and road links will struggle to cope with the extra number of passengers that will use Heathrow if a 3rd runway is build. A new runway would mean another 260,000 or so flights a year. It is likely that the extra journeys generated by a 3rd runway would threaten gridlock on local roads and public transport networks.”
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Leeds Bradford still hopeful of airport rail link after Minister Robert Goodwill visits
New aviation Minister, Robert Goodwill. has visited Leeds Bradford airport and commented that a new rail link to the airport is “obviously desirable”. Mr Goodwill was at the airport for a whistle-stop tour, as part of a day of discussions with council and business leaders. One of the items to discuss was the possible improvement of road and rail links to the airport. This has been under discussion for several years. The local paper reports that "The Minister is visiting regional airports across the country in the wake of a new Government study, which has identified the six national congestion hotspots most in need of investment." He said he could understand why the airport is so keen to get improved rail links, to ease travel. But quizzed on if and when the Government would be ready to invest in the region’s airport, he said he was “rather reluctant to put a timescale on that decision”. “We have to look at other airports and priorities as well..... There is a study ongoing and it will depend on the price tag, the deliverability and planning issues." At present most people go to Leeds Bradford Airport by car or by taxi.
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Anti-third runway campaigners “put the boot in” at Westminster with a protest football game
Protesters - from the villages of Harmondsworth and Longford (to be destroyed by Heathrow's 3rd runway plan) played a protest football game on the green outside the Houses of Parliament. This was to highlight the "broken promises" of David Cameron over his "No ifs, no buts, no third runway" commitment to no expansion at Heathrow at the last election. The residents of the 2 villages feel they have been "kicked into the long grass" over new Heathrow expansion plans. The villagers travelled from west London too Westminster with Channel 5 TV cameras in tow, to set up their jumpers for goalposts on the green overlooked by Parliament. The team wore England shirts, with past quotes from senior politicians affirming cross-party opposition to a third runway emblazoned on their backs.The football organiser said "We will practice our kicking into the long grass, and our U-turns. The Conservative Government made promises that there would be no third runway before they were elected, and now it looks like they are going back on their word. If we can't believe them on this issue, how can we believe them about anything?"
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Eric Pickles decides against calling in Luton’s plans – trampling on views of local residents
Luton Airport operators LLAOL have announced that Eric Pickles, Secretary of State at the DCLG, has decided not to call in Luton airport's expansion plans. This means Luton Borough Council can now grant planning permission for works designed to achieve a doubling of annual passenger capacity. Local opponents of the expansion are horrified and saddened. Earlier a local opinion poll showed some 70% of the public who responded to the consultation over Luton Airport Expansion said "NO" to it. Local community group opposing the expansion, HALE, commented that the application is effectively large enough to be a NSIP (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project) as it could perhaps add 10 million passengers per year. NSIPs have to be called in, as their scale and the extent of their influence warrant proper scrutiny, in detail. The airport and the government, have failed to take proper account of the local impacts of an extra 9 million passengers per year on local transport infrastructure, and the effect of noise from 60% more flights. "The throwaway comment at the end about being a good neighbour is meaningless ..." Luton Council gave consent to the plans in December but Eric Pickles asked to review the decision.
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Scope of coverage of aviation by EU Emissions Trading System now slashed by 75% until 2017
The compromise deal agreed by the European Parliament in early April means that, until 2017, only flights between EU airports will be regulated, not flights to or from the EU. So the result is that this only covers about 25% of the total EU aviation carbon emissions. About 75% of the total emissions, which were covered in the first year of the ETS, are now not covered - and will not be for years. The inclusion of aviation in the ETS, agreed in 2008, covered emissions from all flights to, from and within Europe and entered force in 2012. However, an interim one-year freeze of the law, known as ‘stop the clock’, was hurriedly agreed in late 2012 to allow time for the UN’s aviation body, ICAO, to agree a global measure to reduce aviation emissions at its 2013 triennial assembly. The EU decision included a provision that if ICAO fails to agree a global measure by 2017, the original ETS, with full coverage, will ‘snapback’ then. Bill Hemmings, sustainable aviation manager at T&E commented :"Just when the IPCC’s latest report shows how climate change is already affecting every aspect of human life, European governments and politicians have chosen to effectively scrap the only law in the world that attempts to curb aviation’s soaring emissions."
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Top economists urge UN aviation body, ICAO, to deliver global CO2 deal to pay the social costs of aviation carbon emissions
A group of 40 leading international economists has said ICAO, must develop a market-based measure that forces air transport to pay the full costs that its emissions cause to global society - ‘the social costs of carbon’. The 40, including 4 Nobel prize winners and economists from emerging economies like Brazil, India and China, have written an open letter to ICAO saying if aviation is to claim some of the earth’s remaining atmospheric capacity for emissions, it must show it is doing everything it can to create incentives for emissions reduction in the air transport sector. The economists recognise that low carbon aviation technologies are several decades away, but due to the urgency and seriousness of the threat to the climate, "every amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere should reflect the expected cost of these emissions to society as a whole." They say aviation must not be allowed to merely "buy emissions offsets in order to meet an already weak 2020 carbon neutrality target." That would fall short of being a meaningful policy and would "set a bad precedent."
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