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Latest news stories:
Large purchases of planes by middle eastern airlines heralds change in Heathrow-type hub model
Emirates ordered 150 Boeing 777Xs at the 5-day Dubai air show, worth about $76bn [£46bn]. In total Emirates bought $99 billion-worth, and the total value of orders for planes bought was over $200bn - much by middle east airlines, like Qatar Airways and Etihad of Abu Dhabi. The middle east airlines are redrawing the global aviation map, enabling Gulf carriers to move traffic from hubs like Heathrow, Frankfurt and Singapore. They will be doing more long haul routes in future, not merely medium haul, and competing more with established long haul European airlines like BA, Lufthansa and Air France. An aviation analyst said the hub-spoke model, where long-haul passengers transfer to a short flight to reach their destination, would come under increasing threat. Hub traffic (the Heathrow model) with one long-haul and one short-haul flight is incredibly wasteful. Two medium-haul flights into a hub is more efficient. A 16-hour flight broken up into two 8-hour flights is quite efficient- more so than a huge plane carrying enough fuel for a very long flight. That suits a middle eastern hub airport.
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Thousands Heathrow of T5 high ceiling light bulbs to be replaced by high-wire artists – as no records kept of agreement on how to maintain them
Heathrow is calling in a team of high-wire artists to replace thousands of out-of-reach light bulbs at Terminal 5. The departure concourse has got progressively darker as bulb after bulb has failed, till now some 60% are blown. No bulbs have been replaced over 5 years, as no safe and effective means had been found of doing so. Now a specialist company using staff hanging off ropes will change all the bulbs for LEDs that should last at least 5 years, over some 4 months. It may cost several million pounds. T5 has one of the world's largest controlled-lighting system, with 120,000 light fittings and 2,600 sensors designed to switch off lights when no motion is detected. Heathrow Airport Holdings confirmed that it was taking responsibility for changing the bulbs. All minutes and information relating to discussion with the architects, RSHP, some 8 years ago about the maintenance of the lights had been lost. No record remains of what was agreed then. "No-one can remember how they were supposed to change light bulbs and the manufacturer's instruction book/ facilities management manual has been lost........." The architects said the number of bulbs to be changed is more like 1,000 rather than 120,000.
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Unresolved issues on noise and NSIP status delay Luton Airport planning application
The planning application for expansion at Luton airport remains unresolved. There was due have been a meeting of the Luton Borough Council Development Control committee to specifically debate the matter on 21st November, but this was cancelled. Two crucial issues remain unresolved. The first is whether the project counts as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (in which case it must be referred to the Secretary of State); the second is an apparent ambiguity on noise levels. Legislation is clear in defining whether an airport expansion project counts as an NSIP: if the work would deliver capability to handle more than an extra 10 million passengers/ year. It appears that the plans would indeed result in the capability to deliver 10 million/year. There is current argument about which set of noise levels in 1999 should be used as the baseline level. Luton Borough Council has postponed the planning meeting and engaged a QC to review the NSIP issue. It may also be the Commissioner for Local Government might issue a holding direction preventing LBC from granting planning permission – even though the application can still go to the committee.
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Ways to improve airport capacity without extra runways – from NATS
NATS is the organisation that manages air traffic and airspace within the UK. Without efficient and safe use of airspace for more flights, there could be no airport capacity expansion. A blog by a NATS manager says there are many ways to get more air traffic onto the existing runways. He writes that NATS has developed tools and analysis methods that allow them to identify where growth is being constrained. Better co-ordination and sharing of information across an airport can help improve efficiency, and getting the maximum use from one runway - which could be as effective as sub-optimal use of several. He hints at mixed mode at Heathrow, using both runways for both take-offs and landings, rather than the current "runway alternation" by which Londoners get half a day of respite, when the runways switch use at 3pm. With a mix of larger and smaller planes, with the problem of air turbulence from the larger ones, it is important to optimise the landing sequence for aircraft arriving at busy capacity constrained airports to maintain capacity and throughput. Optimal planning reduces the time aircraft take from starting up their engines, to take-off.
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How high are the carbon emissions from flying, compared to other forms of consumption?
Carbon footprints of manufacture of products, and their life cycle carbon footprints, are not easy to measure – and there are a limited number of figures around. Calculations are complicated, and there are huge numbers of variables and imponderables. But it is illuminating to compare the carbon emissions of some of our regular consumption items. For example, taking the emissions from one person flying, return (including the non-CO2 impacts) from London to Rome, economy class - that is approximately equivalent to leaving a 20 watt light bulb on, all the time, for over 5 years. Or buying more than 500 loaves of bread. Or buying around 500 pints on beer in the pub. Or buying a £600 gold and diamond necklace. Or the manufacturing emissions of making a new laptop computer. Or about a quarter of the average UK household's use of electricity for a year. One person flying return, economy class, to New York would be about the same emissions as 760 machine loads of clothes washed, and dried in a dryer. Or about the same as the electricity to power a modern laptop for 8 hours a day, for 18 years. Or getting on for half of the average UK home's gas usage, or almost the average UK home's electricity usage.
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Qatar Airways new service between Edinburgh and Doha – and others – avoiding need for connecting flights
A new non-stop flight between Edinburgh Airport and Doha in Qatar is to be launched next year. It will be operated x5 per week by Qatar Airways, which serves more than 100 international destinations from Doha. The 787 Dreamliner aircraft will fly all year round on the route, providing connections to Australian hubs in Perth and Melbourne. It will be the Dreamliner's first scheduled service from Scotland. Officials at Edinburgh Airport have long wanted to attract a major Middle Eastern carrier to allow them to compete with Glasgow, which provides a twice daily Emirates service to Dubai. There will also be a US Airways route linking Edinburgh with Philadelphia. Scotland's Transport Minister Keith Brown hailed the move as "excellent news" for the aviation sector and said the new route was "yet more evidence of the strong bonds we are building with Qatar. The direct flights remove the need to use Heathrow for hub connections. In 2014 Scotland has the Commonwealth Games, and the Ryder Cup and wants to get in more visitors to these, as well as other business and tourists.
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SSE challenges Airports Commission at the High Court on “apparent bias” due to involvement of Geoff Muirhead
Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) has launched a High Court bid to force the Airports Commission to revise its work on the future of aviation expansion in the UK. SSE's case, asking that the Airports Commission should re-determine its so-called “sift criteria” for assessing growth options, was heard by Mrs Justice Patterson. SSE claims that the sift criteria process was infected by apparent bias because Geoff Muirhead, then still a member of the Commission, had worked as Chief Executive for - and continued to work for - MAG. The sift criteria will ultimately guide the Commission in its final decision on where any new runways in the UK should be built. SSE's barrister, Paul Stinchcombe QC, argued that Mr Muirhead's resignation was too late to save the sift criteria proceedings and that his involvement had tainted and was continuing to taint the activities and decisions of the commission by reason of apparent bias. The DfT said "there is no evidence whatsoever of bias and the Airports Commission is content that decisions taken to date are robust." The Commission said its processes to date were "appropriate and robust". Mrs Justice Patterson said she will make a decision on the matter in writing at a later date.
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India – people resist airport land grabs, evictions and conversion of their land from agricultural to industrial use
Rose Bridger, writing in the Ecologist, says rural communities all over India are battling against a land grab of epic proportions for airport building. There is currently a boom in domestic aviation in India, and there is a particular problem of rural land-take in Kerala. Large tracts of farmland and wildlife habitats are being handed over to corporations for high carbon industries such as mines, steel plants, manufacturing, agribusiness plantations, roads, dams, oil refineries, power plants and logistics parks as well as airports. The requisite road network and associated land developments often extend the airport footprint over a far wider area. Supposedly a new airport would bring in more tourists. But often it would destroy much of what is attractive to visitors. The land grab has been met by tumultuous protests by people defending their land and livelihoods. Compensation is often negligible, subject to lengthy delays, or even non-existent. Rehabilitation programmes are similarly inadequate. All too often, those evicted are left destitute - granted neither new plots of land and housing comparable to what they have lost, nor employment at the project that displaced them.
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Thomas Cook, Virgin Atlantic,Lufthansa and Tui sell their 21% stake in NATS to UK pension fund
Thomas Cook, Virgin Atlantic, TUI Travel and Lufthansa have agreed to sell most of their stakes in NATS to Britain's biggest pension fund, the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). USS will pay £152m for 49.9% of the "Airline Group", which owns 41.9% of NATS. The deal indirectly gives USS a 21% stake in Nats, which handles more than 6,000 flights a day. Thomas Cook and TUI each issued statements to the London Stock Exchange saying they sold their stakes for £38m and that Nats was not a core part of their operations. BA, easyJet and the Monarch Airlines retirement plan, the other owners of the Airline Group, will keep their stakes. A spokesman for the Airline Group said BA and easyJet were the two companies most reliant on Nats so they kept their stakes to maintain their influence over operations. Nats is controlled by the government, which has a 49% stake plus a special share. The government had intended to sell half its stake but ministers changed their minds when faced with a potential outcry (Feb 2011) over letting air traffic control out of public hands.
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European Commission approves state aid for the construction of French airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes
There are plans for a new airport for Nantes, in western France, to be built some 12 miles to the north of the town, at Notre Dame des Landes. The new airport has been fiercely opposed. The proponents of the new airport claim the existing one is now full, with over 3.5 million passengers, and planes over-fly Nantes. The European Commission has decided that it is suitable to give a public subsidy of €150 million to the company to develop the new airport, Société Aéroports du Grand Ouest. The EC says this is compatible with the EU rules on State aid, and they say it will help improve regional connectivity and links with the rest of the EU, without unduly distorting competition in the internal market. This appears to be a very bad decision on the use of public money. The Commission seems to have believed everything it has been told by the authorities who want to build the airport. There is, in reality, no congestion at the existing airport and the economic benefits were hotly challenged in a report by CE Delft, commissioned by the local campaign. It is also worrying that the Commission is agreeing to State Aid for an airport in what is generally quite a wealthy area.
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The myth of the global warming ‘pause’ – actually due to gaps in data on Arctic temperatures
Scientists can now explain the “pause” in global warming that sceptics have used to bolster their arguments against anthropogenic climate change. Sceptics had claimed we have nothing to fear from climate change because it has stopped being a problem. A new study has found that global temperatures have not flat-lined over the past 15 years, as weather station records have been suggesting, but have in fact continued to rise as fast as previous decades, during which we have seen an unprecedented acceleration in global warming. Two university scientists have found that the “pause” or “hiatus” in global temperatures can be largely explained by a failure of climate researchers to record the dramatic rise in Arctic temperatures over the past decade or more.They have found a way of estimating Arctic temperatures from satellite readings. Getting Arctic readings has been difficult, due to seasonal melting so fixed stations are more difficult. When these readings are included, the so-called pause effectively disappeared. NOAA monthly temperature data on land surface, ocean surface and combined land ocean show recent years have been much warmer than previous averages.
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Cameron failed to deliver on promise of ‘greenest government ever’ and environmental commitments, say NGOs
In a report called "Nature Check 2013" the consortium of 41 environmental NGOs has set out a range of environmental commitments made by this government, and their progress on them. The Government has failed to deliver on more than a third of the pledges it made to improve the natural environment and has made “good progress” on less than a fifth. The report shows, comparing progress over the past 3 years, that the Coalition’s environmental record had “steadily worsened” during its time in office and found that 79% of the population believe it has not lived up to its pledge to be the “greenest government ever”. Dr Elaine King, director of the consortium said: “We’re told an economy in crisis is a higher priority than nature in crisis. Yet the Government is missing a huge opportunity – a healthy environment helps the economy and enhances people’s health and wellbeing." On the pledge "We will maintain the Green Belt, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and other environmental protections, and create a new designation – similar to SSSIs"...they are failing.They are making only moderate progress on two others relating to the planning system.
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“Let Britain Fly” taken to task for exaggerating and wrongly claiming London’s economy is being damaged by any lack of runway capacity
In a blog, John Stewart pours some cold water on the infant "Let Britain Fly" campaign launched today. Its proud parent, London First, surrounded by a glittering array of big names from the business world, overdid the hyperbole. Baroness Jo Valentine, chief executive of London First, said that it was not acceptable for politicians “to dither” over new runways “and let our economy wither.” She even went on to ask somewhat over-dramatically, “Do we really want to become an also-ran in the global race?” Baroness Valentine must know this is exaggeration, even scaremongering. Whatever the pros and cons of expansion in the longer term, the facts are clear: there is no rush for a decision to be taken. The DfT has said that there is enough spare runway capacity in London and the South East until nearly 2030. And survey after survey shows that London remains the top city for business in Europe because of its unparalleled air connections to the rest of the world. Let Britain Fly – and London First – will lose credibility if they continue to exaggerate the urgency of the need for expansion. Giving the impression that London’s economy is in crisis because of a lack of runways is simply not true.
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Campaign – ‘Let Britain Fly’ – launched by London First, calls for urgent action to increase airport capacity
On 10th October, business lobby group London First announced it would be launching a new campaign called "Let Britain Fly". It has now had its blast of publicity, with a splurge of media coverage. The campaign will cost £250,000 and London First is seeking £25,000 each from businesses, trade unions and London boroughs to fund it. They have got a number of Britain’s large companies, including Aberdeen Asset Management, Land Securities, Lloyds Banking Group, Next, Associated British Foods, WPP and many others to sign up. They want a new runway built somewhere, complaing the UK has not built a new one in the south east for 70 years. They want politicians of all parties to agree on the principle that airport capacity must be expanded in the South East "to ensure Britain remains competitive". They want there to be no delays in getting a new runway built. The campaign stems from the questionable belief that airport capacity constraints threaten “to hamper the UK’s success as a global business centre and at the same time the ability to forge a lasting economic recovery”.
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The myth of the global warming ‘pause’ – actually due to gaps in data on Arctic temperatures
Scientists can now explain the “pause” in global warming that sceptics have used to bolster their arguments against anthropogenic climate change. Sceptics had claimed we have nothing to fear from climate change because it has stopped being a problem. A new study has found that global temperatures have not flat-lined over the past 15 years, as […]
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Cameron pledges to tackle RAF’s ‘unacceptable’ noise at Brize Norton
David Cameron has pledged to tackle the “unacceptable level” of noise from RAF Brize Norton. The Prime Minister and Witney MP spoke over concerns about an increase in aircraft noise from the base. It is now a main RAF destination after the closure of Wiltshire’s RAF Lyneham in 2011. It has also seen the arrival of […]
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Stop Stansted Expansion welcomes call for an independent noise watchdog
SSE welcomes the call by London First for an independent noise ombudsman to protect people living near airports and under flight paths from aircraft noise. London Firstsuggests the ombudsman should have a range of powers including the ability to fine airlines that break noise limits. It believes this would help address the lack of trust and transparency between those pressing for airport expansion and local communities. SSE agrees with London First on these points. SSE has been calling for an independent noise watchdog since 2006 and has repeatedly been pressing the DfT, the CAA and MPs, to introduce independent oversight of aircraft noise and the other environmental impacts of airports on local communities. That would be preferable to the current situation where airport operators are themselves responsible for monitoring and reporting on the environmental impacts of their own operations, acting as judge, jury and policeman. It is not therefore surprising that there is so much mistrust amongst local communities in relation to the fairness and transparency of the current arrangements.
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In response to the frequently asked question: “If not Heathrow, what….?” John Stewart sets out the arguments
Often asked, when campaigning against a third (or even fourth) runway at Heathrow, what are the alternatives, John has set some out. The options are not just to push the expansion to another site, like Gatwick or Stansted. The main points, replying to "If not Heathrow, what...?" are: 1. No new runways would be a viable solution if government chose to manage future air travel demand (through taxation on aviation) to meet existing capacity but at present there are no signs of that happening and it might need international or at least European agreement. 2. Even without demand management, there is enough capacity at airports in London and the South East for about the next 20 years. With capacity restricted, market forces would kick in: airlines would choose to concentrate their long-haul, intercontinental flights at Heathrow, with some of the short-haul currently using the airport being moved elsewhere to take up existing spare capacity at those airports. 3. If a new runway is required, it is not essential for the health of London’s economy that it is built at Heathrow - because of the power of the attractiveness of London as an international destination.
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Stop Stansted Expansion challenge to Airports Commission on apparent bias going to High Court on Friday 22nd Nov
Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) will go to the Royal Courts of Justice on Friday 22 November to present its case that a key element of the work carried out by the Airports Commission has been tainted by apparent bias and needs to be done afresh. SSE's legal challenge stems from the involvement of Geoff Muirhead, who was appointed to the Airports Commission. He had retired as MAG's chief executive in October 2010 after 22 years with the Group but he was then immediately appointed as their highly paid ambassador, a role he continued to fulfil even after he was appointed to the Commission. Mr Muirhead resigned from the Commission on 20 September 2013, shortly after SSE began its legal challenge. He was directly involved in determining the Commission's 'sift criteria' for deciding the most suitable airport expansion options and SSE believes that these are clearly skewed to favour expansion at Stansted. SSE will be asking the High Court to order the Commission to re-determine the 'sift criteria' and to delay the publication of any short-list of options until the sift criteria have been re-determined.
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Opinion (LibDem Robin Meltzer): “Heathrow expansion: big money versus public health”
Robin Meltzer is the prospective LIb Dem candidate for the Richmond Park seat (current incumbent is Zac Goldsmith). In a blog in Liberal Democrat Voice he says the LibDems are strictly against any 3rd Heathrow runway, and against all night flights at Heathrow. He reiterates the fact that over 725,000 people are already affected by noise from Heathrow, making it the airport the noise from which affects more than any other in Europe. This causes health problems. He says: "A 3rd or 4th new runway ..... would lead to the destruction of homes and entire villages. It would be an environmental outrage and a noise pollution disaster for hundreds of thousands of residents, including people not currently affected. Yet the whole pro-expansion side of the issue, which is rolling in money and spending it furiously, is able to get its views across forcefully and frequently in the media. So it is important to challenge the assumptions and myths."...."It’s not exactly rocket science to realise that the massive industry that has grown up around lobbying for expansion serves well the people who would benefit from it. "
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BA fears cuts to early morning Heathrow flights before 7am – says cuts would have “dramatic impact” on business travellers
British Airways wants to keep as many flights into Heathrow in the early morning as it can. It is saying it does not want restrictions on flights before 7am. BA’s head of sales and marketing Richard Tams said any further restrictions on landings at Heathrow between 04.30 and 07.00 each day could have a “dramatic impact on business travellers." Currently only 16 flights are allowed to land at Heathrow between 04.30 and 06.00 with a total of 65 take-offs and landings allowed between 06.00 and 07.00 each day. The current night flights regime will remain in place till October 2017. BA says “These early morning flights are critical because a lot of flights from the US and the Far East land during this period – they are critical for people transiting through London.” Not letting BA have these flights - which are deeply unpopular with thousands of Londoners, who get woken up too early - would, says BA, "dramatically impact the schedule we could offer out of London." Usual situation - it's a question of the health and quality of life (and sleep) for thousands, up against t he ability of BA to make more money.
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Emissions of CO2 increasing ocean acidification with future serious risks to marine life
The world's oceans are becoming acidic at an "unprecedented rate" and this may be happening at faster than at any time in the past 300 million years. In their strongest statement yet on this issue, a large number of scientists say ocean acidification could increase by 170% by 2100. They say that some 30% of ocean species are unlikely to survive in these conditions. The researchers conclude that human emissions of CO2 are clearly to blame - humanity is putting some 24 million tonnes of CO2 into the oceans each day. That is already altering the chemistry of the waters, and will do so even more in future. Since the start of the industrial revolution, the waters have become 26% more acidic - and there are serious concerns about the impact this is having, and will have, on many ocean species. These include oysters, clams, sea urchins, shallow water corals, deep sea corals, and calcareous plankton. When shelled organisms are at risk, the entire food web may also be at risk. Today, more than a billion people worldwide rely on food from the ocean as their primary source of protein.
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“Have regional airports had their day in the sun?” Plans by some for business parks, housing etc in future
The Northern Echo writes: "Have regional airports had their day in the sun?" They look at loss-making regional airports, after the news that Manston and Prestwick are to effectively be sold for £1 each. Others are surviving on bail-outs from taxpayers. From Prestwick to Newquay, numbers of passenger at UK regional airports plummeted after 2007 as airlines withdrew flights and consolidated services at the major hubs in response to a reduction in both leisure and business traffic. Durham Tees Valley has been particularly badly hit, and continues to lose money - perhaps £4 million this year. Its owner, Peel, are proposing a business park with housing for the airport, and that sort of plan is becoming commonplace. Peel have launched similar plans at Robin Hood Airport, which includes a pub, offices, and industrial buildings. Newcastle airport's masterplan aims to include 2 business parks. Cambridge has a scheme to build up to 1,500 homes on land adjacent to the airport, and Manston wants to develop a campus with student accommodation.
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Prestwick Airport to be sold to Scottish Government for £1 – and other failing regional airports look to business parks and housing
Infratil, which currently owns Prestwick Airport, has said the airport is expected to be sold to the Scottish Government for £1. The sale is due to be completed by Wednesday, 20 November. Infratil said the airport’s value had been “fully impaired” - effectively written off - after Prestwick and sister airport Manston in Kent were collectively valued at £11 million in March. Infratil bought Prestwick from Stagecoach in 2001 for £33m. Manston is being sold to Stagecoach founder Ann Gloag for an expected £400,000. Scottish Ministers are taking over Prestwick airport, which is losing £7m a year, to avert its closure and safeguard 1,400 jobs, including 300 at the airport. Infratil described its investment in the airports to have been “unsuccessful for Infratil” and that while such regional airports looked like a good investment 5 years ago, they now are not as they are reliant on "robust air traffic growth driving demand." Other failing airports are looking to create business parks on their land, and housing - to try and make money out of them.
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Luton Airport planning application recommended for consent by Luton Borough Council for 21st November meeting
Luton Borough Council's Development Control Committee will be discussing the application for expansion at Luton airport, at a special meeting on 21st November. The officer recommendation is that they approve the application, with various conditions. One of the conditions is that: "At no time shall the passenger throughput of the airport exceed 18 million passengers per annum unless express consent is obtained from the Local Planning Authority." It also says: "Before any part of the development hereby permitted is commenced, a day to day noise control scheme shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority which sets out the proposals for ensuring that individual aircraft noise impact from the Airport's operation is reduced as far as is practicable in the light of development to facilitate 18 mppa." ie. a degree of wishful thinking on noise controls. Local campaigners are arguing that the expansion is likely to increase the annual number of passengers by over 10 million. That would mean the application should be a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, which the Planning Act 2008 requires to be decided by the Planning Inspectorate, not the local council.
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Villages opposing a new runway either to the north, or south, of Heathrow unite in their opposition
Stanwell and its neighbouring communities are uniting to oppose plans to expand Heathrow. More than 100 people packed a meeting at the Grade I-listed St Mary’s Church for a debate on Heathrow's expansion plans. The meeting agreed that villages north and south of Heathrow should be protected and moves to demolish them fought. There was one exception - a councillor from Spelthorne Borough Council (which wants Heathrow expansion, but not in their borough - to the north instead. Rather irresponsible to try and pass the misery to another borough ...). "Her words were met with jeers." The 3 main speakers at the meeting were Father William Whittaker, Surrey county councillor Robert Evans and John Stewart, of HACAN. John said the case for a 3rd runway still does not add up. Some 725,000 people now live under the Heathrow flight path, and if a 3rd runway was built, that would rise by 150,000. Geraldine Nicholson, who led the No Third Runway Action Group (NOTRAG) also spoke and was warmly received. Further meetings are planned, with residents now looking to form their own action group.
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Farmers near Khed, in the Pune area of India, to demonstrate about airport purchase of their land
There are a large number of greenfield sites in India where airports are planned, with the country rushing to build ever more airports, partly in increase domestic aviation. There is much opposition locally, by land owners whose land is appropriated and who are moved off their land. Many are not given fair compensation. There is a possible "international" airport planned for Pune, some 80 miles south east of Mumbai. There are plans to put it partly on a Special Economic Zone, at a place called Khed. This would require also compulsorily purchasing 500 hectares of undulating agricultural land that is privately owned, to make an airport with 2 runways, each of 4,000 metres, on a site of total area 1,268 hectares. Many families would be displaced. One report says: "The farmer leader claimed that the assured financial package to farmers has not been given despite the fact that the firm was formed six years ago." There are some 950 farmers involved, and there will be a demonstration against the land purchases on 18th November. The airport's construction is proposed to begin in 2015.
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Speculation that GIP, Ferrovial and MAG interested in buying Aberdeen Glasgow and/or Southampton airports
Sky News has learned "from banking sources" that various infrastructure investors are interested in buying Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports - amid expectations that their owner, Heathrow Holdings, will opt to sell them - to focus on its ownership of Heathrow. It is understood that Heathrow is considering a plan to offload, following a string of unsolicited approaches from prospective buyers. Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) which owns Gatwick and City airports, has expressed an interest in buying Aberdeen airport, although it has not yet made a formal bid. A number of Heathrow's shareholders and board members are said to be keen to dispose of the 3 regional airports but its board has not yet made a formal decision. Ferrovial now only owns 25% of Heathrow,and is reported as now likely to be interested in buying one or more of the airports, through a separate vehicle. MAG is also understood to want to buy one or more of them.
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“Heathrow Hub” proposers, claiming to be without vested interests, revealed to stand to make millions from options on land
The "Heathrow Hub" proposal for a 4 runway Heathrow got some very expensive full page ads in the main broadsheet papers recently, probably costing a total of well over £200,000. Now the Guardian reports that the group behind the "Heathrow Hub" scheme, which said in its adverts that it was without the "lobbying of vested interests" stands to make millions from options on nearby land should its £12.5bn plan be accepted by the government. Heathrow Hub adverts aimed to persuade the public that its expansionist solution could mean "quieter Heathrow expansion" despite almost doubling the number of planes over London. Their plan includes building on a 200-acre site north of Heathrow that the group could buy for a fraction of its future value. If the government approves the Heathrow expansion scheme, the value of the land currently might rise from around £10,000 per acre to £2m or more – an increase in value from £2m to at least £400m for the site. The 4 Heathrow Hub directors are shareholders in the land, and have a vested interest in its development.
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“London Britannia” (aka ‘Boris Island’) mega Thames Estuary airport designs publicised by promoters, Testrad
In the last month before the Airports Commission reveals its interim report, there is a flurry of activity, with airport schemes vying with each other to get media attention - and the attention of Sir Howard Davies. The mega-expensive (and needing huge public funding) scheme calling itself "London Britannia Airport" (aka Boris Island) had got itself plenty of media coverage. Its developers, Testrad, say the cost of £47 billion to develop the airport plus rail links, infrastructure etc, "would be recouped from the real estate value and closure of Heathrow." There is little new, other than what was reported earlier, in July. The airport claims it would bring huge economic benefits, cover most of the Thames estuary in a development area, allow the area at Heathrow (airport would have to be closed) to become a pleasant London suburb, and there are a list of other claims - including that it "avoids the problems of other land-based airport developments." It even makes out that it avoids bird strike problems (?). The entire area is part of the Outer Thames Estuary Special Protection Area.
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Environmental Audit Committee warn that biodiversity offsetting plans are too simplistic and a “box-ticking exercise”
The Environmental Audit Committee has said a plan to help developers to win permission to build housing on wildlife habitats by “offsetting” the impact is too simplistic and could turn into a licence to pour concrete on the countryside. The government scheme would involve very perfunctory assessments of species in the area being targeted for development, taking as little as 20 minutes. A developer would then offer to create a replacement habitat somewhere else. Many sites need to be studied over a year, to get a true record of the species using them. The Audit Committee said the scheme could deliver benefits if subjected to stricter rules, but as proposed it could diminish important habitats, such as ancient woodland or SSSis. They told the Government the scheme needs to be delayed till pilot projects have been independently evaluated. Owen Patterson does not like development schemes being held up for biodiversity reasons. Many valuable sites have ecosystems that have taken decades or centuries to develop - these cannot be instantly replicated.
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Government to make no significant change to night flights regime at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted until Airports Commission report
In January 2013 the DfT put out the first part of its consultation on the night flight regime at the UK's 3 designated airports,Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. The DfT said then that the 2nd consultation would be publishes later this year, to include specific proposals for the new regime, such as the number of permitted night flights - informed by the evidence from the first consultation. The DfT has now published this 2nd stage, but instead of any specific measures, it proposes no significant change to the night flight regime at Heathrow until 2017. It says it does not want to pre-empt the findings of the Airports Commission which is due to publish its final report in summer 2015. The current night flight regime for the 3 airports ends in October 2014. Normally a new regime is put in place to cover the next 5 - 6 years. This time the Government has decided in effect to roll-over the existing regime until 2017. The only change for Heathrow is a proposal “to extend the operational ban on the noisiest types of aircraft to include an extra half hour, the 23.00-23.30 period.
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Evidence on how the 57 Leq noise contours for Heathrow fail to fully reflect aircraft noise impacts
In a blog on the anomalies of how aircraft noise is currently measured, John Stewart writes of the odd situation where roads in London are regarded as quiet, ignoring the obvious impact of Heathrow flightpaths overhead. This arises in areas such as Clapham, which are well outside the 57 Leq contour, which it is wrongly alleged, is the limit at which aircraft noise is a problem, or annoys/upsets people. The number of complaints about aircraft noise that come from areas well beyond the 57 Leq contour are evidence that it is not a measure that reflects reality. A better system for measuring aircraft noise experienced is Lden (day, evening, night) with noise in evening and night given a higher weighting, to reflect the greater impact, and greater annoyance, it has on those overflown. The European Commission requires member states to use 55Lden when drawing up their noise maps. That is more realistic than 57 Leq. It is understood that Sir Howard Davies, Chairman of the Airports Commission, is looking seriously at a more realistic noise metric.
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Heathrow has highest weekly number of (noisy) 747 flights of any world airport
Figures from Anna aero, which celebrates routes, flights, links etc and associated airports, show that Heathrow continues to have by far the highest number of Boeing 747s of any other global airport. 747s are noisy planes, as well as being huge. They are likely to be as noisy as - or even noisier than - the A380. Some studies show the A380 being up to 5 decibels quieter at some measurement stations, though it depends on which engines the planes are using; the noise is both from engines and airframe. The 747 - 400 is ranked as Quote count 4 on departure and 2 on arrival. By comparison the A320 series is ranked at about 2 and 1 respectively. Anna aero shows Heathrow has 298 weekly departures of Boeing 747s, with the next highest airport Taipei with 174. Then third is Frankfurt, with 150. Now the A380 has taken over for new orders, there have been fewer and fewer new 747s being delivered, with just 20 ordered in the past 5 years and zero ordered in 2013.
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Heathrow pays £1.8m for noise-reducing adobe huts in playgrounds of 21 schools under its flightpaths
It was reported in April 2013 that four adobe domes had been put up in the grounds of Hounslow Primary school, which is under the southern runway at Heathrow, in order to enable the children to use the playground despite the plane noise. Now Heathrow says it will spend £1.8 million to extend the scheme to 21 schools that are badly affected by aircraft noise. Heathrow is desperate to try and persuade London residents that aircraft noise is being dealt with, and a 3rd runway will not cause intolerable noise to those overflown. The 21 schools, which have not been named, will each get around £85,000 for the building of these structures. The largest can hold 30 children, and the level of noise can be 17 decibels lower than outside. Children can hear the teachers inside the domes, so teaching does not have to stop for a considerable time every 90 seconds or so, when planes go over. Children can also hear each other, and so develop their language skills. However, the domes do not solve the problem of providing ventilation and soundproofing of classrooms.
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New study by Queen Mary University, London, indicates possible long-term effects of aircraft noise on children’s cognition
Research into the impact of noise on children have carried out a new study to follow up a study done between 2001 and 2003 into the impact of noise from road traffic and aircraft on children aged 9 - 10. That was called the RANCH study (Road traffic noise and Aircraft Noise exposure and children’s Cognition and Health). The new study, carried out in 2008, wanted to assess the effects of noise over time on cognition. The study did indicate that levels of aircraft noise experienced in primary schools might affect aspects of children’s cognition, even several years after they have left the primary school - even taking socio-economic factors into account. The study looked at the same children aged 15-16 years old, who had attended noisier primary schools six years earlier. They found aircraft noise was more disturbing or annoying to these children than to controls, even after accounting for aircraft noise at their current school.
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Committee on Climate Change warns that UK must not reduce the level of ambition of its 4th carbon budget (2023 – 2027)
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has advised that there has been no significant change in the climate science, international and EU circumstances on which the UK's 4th carbon budget (2023 – 2027) was set in 2011. It says there is therefore no legal or economic basis for the government to change the budget or reduce its ambition. Only if there is significant change in circumstances can budgets be altered. Considering the recent IPCC report, the CCC agrees the emissions cuts to meet the 4th carbon budget are a minimum UK contribution to required global action. It reiterates that the UK is not acting alone in shouldering its responsibilities. In fact our targets are relatively unchallenging. It and says the UK has an important role in securing an ambitious international agreement. The latest IPCC report reiterates how vital continued action is and that a global temperature rise of 4 degrees C is likely if emissions continue to increase. The CCC will provide its final advice on the 4th carbon budget in December 2013.
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Sec of State for Wales says South Wales to Heathrow rail link would provide major economic boost
Secretary of State for Wales David Jones has said a £500m direct rail link between Heathrow and South Wales would be a major economic driver for the area. He said better infrastructure would play a crucial role in growth of the Welsh economy. Last year the UK Government outlined its commitment to the Western Rail Access scheme – a new rail link which will cut 30 minutes off the journey times from South Wales. Network Rail is currently looking at options for the proposed spur, including direct services from South Wales on the Great Western Main Line into Heathrow, or providing a separate shuttle service from Reading. And David Jones added the standard speil about “Fast and convenient links to our major airports are crucial as we look to compete in the global race." What race? Colin Matthews said 8.8% of the 1.3 million people in the UK working for foreign-owned firms that use Heathrow are from Wales.
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London First suggests an independent ombudsman is needed to deal with aircraft noise in London
London First is the business organisation that aims to "make London the best city in the world in which to do business" and which supports expanding London airport capacity, especially at Heathrow. It has produced a new short report called "More Flights, Less Noise" which recommends that, in order to get more flights over London, there should be a noise pollution tsar, to protect people living under flight paths. They say an independent noise ombudsman, with a range of powers including the ability to fine an airline that persistently broke noise pollution limits, would address a “basic lack of trust and transparency” between those pressing the economic case for airport expansion and local communities. London First say a similar scheme running in Paris since 2000 has been successful. Their hope of there being less noise stems from slight improvements by modern planes on aircraft noise. However, in reality the improvements are very small and these are more than outweighed if there are more flights. Communities being well informed about the noise is no substitute for reducing it.
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CAA air passenger survey 2012 confirms low % of passengers on business, and high % of AB and C1 flying
The CAA Air Passenger Survey for 2012 has been published. It covered Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Exeter, Gatwick, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester and Stansted Airports. (Each year it covers a slightly different selection). Over 210,000 departing passengers were questioned. Some of the interesting findings from the survey were: Heathrow had 37% connecting passengers; London City airport had the highest proportion on business, at 54% (down from 63% in 2010); Heathrow had 32.4% on business; Gatwick 17.5%; Manchester 23.9 %; Stansted 15%; Luton 16.1%; Birmingham 22.5%. The survey also looked at the socio-economic group of passengers. In the categories C2, D and E, Heathrow had 19.9%; London City airport 14.6%; Gatwick 26%; Stansted 29.3%; Manchester 43.4%; Luton 28.9%; Birmingham 33% and Bristol 35.3%. By contrast around 45% of the UK population are classed by polling organisations at C2,D+E. For the London airports, the AB group fly a disproportionate amount.
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Mary Robinson says it is time for everyone, including aviation, to take their share of climate responsibility
Writing in the Hindustan Times, in India, Mary Robinson - who is a former president of Ireland and president of the "Mary Robinson Foundation — Climate Justice" - talks of the impacts of climate change on the poor in the developing world. Shailesh Nayak, secretary, Indian ministry of earth sciences, said climate change may be causing extreme weather. It is the poor who are picking up the tab for the carbon profligacy of developed nations. Taking into account all the climate impacts of aviation, estimates put aviation’s overall contribution to global warming at 4.9%. ICAO anticipates CO2 emissions from international aviation (about 60% of total aviation emissions) will grow from about 400 million tonnes in 2010 to 650 million tonnes by 2020. So aviation bears a share of responsibility for the accelerated drought-flood cycle that climate change will bring to countries like India. "The time for everyone to take their share of the responsibility and to act is now. And this must include the aviation industry."
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Heathrow launches a “Fly Quiet” programme + quarterly “Fly Quiet” table – in a bid to reduce opposition on noise grounds
Heathrow airport has launched its ‘Fly Quiet programme’ which will produce a "Fly Quiet" table 4 times per year, ranking the 50 airlines that use the airport most on various noise measures. The airlines are listed according to six noise related criteria. These are given a red/amber/green rating for each criterion, as well as an overall score. The criteria are: Noise quota count/seat/movement, which adjusts noise according to seat capacity and movements per airline; the noise certification Chapter number; the number of Continuous Descent Approach violations; the number of track deviations on departure; the number of arrivals before their 4.30am slot, and those arriving before their 6am landing slot. Heathrow says it will work closely with airlines to improve their rating - it knows that noise will be the issue on which their bid for a new runway will fail, so are attempting to overcome opposition on noise grounds. The terminology of "quiet" planes, rather than "less noisy" planes is part of the PR spin. These planes are not "quiet" in any normal sense. Fractionally less noisy would be a better description.
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UNEP’s “Emissions Gap Report 2013” strengthens case for wide-ranging global action to close emissions gap
The Emissions Gap Report 2013 has been produced by UNEP, in the run-up to the climate conference in Warsaw. It was produced by 44 scientific groups in 17 countries. It says that if the global community does not immediately embark on wide-ranging actions to narrow the greenhouse gas emissions gap, the chance of remaining on the least-cost path to keeping global temperature rise below 2°C this century will swiftly diminish and open the door to a host of challenges. Not cutting emissions enough by 2020 will make later cuts more expensive and difficult - as there will be locked-in carbon-intensive infrastructure - as well as increasing the risk of not meeting the 2°C target. Even if nations meet their current climate pledges, greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 are likely to be 8 to 12 GtCO2e above the "safe" level. Emissions should be a maximum of 44 GtCO2e by 2020, 40 GtCO2e by 2025, 35 GtCO2e by 2030 and 22 GtCO2e by 2050. The report says "Some sectors, notably international transport, are not covered by national pledges. The mitigation potential in these sectors is 0.3 GtCO2e"
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Ryanair issues 2nd profit warning in 2 months expecting a loss for 2nd half of 2013/4 – due to “weak demand”
Ryanair has issued its 2nd profit warning in 2 months. It expects losses in the 2nd half of 2013-14 which is its first fall in profits for 5 years. The airline has recently cut fares, in an attempt to attract more passengers against increased competition, less demand and weak economic conditions. Ryanair is as determined as ever to keep on growing (for growth's sake). It aims to increase its passengers from 79.3m in 2012-13 to 110m in 2018-19 . It now says its forecast profit for the year to March 2014 will be some €500 to €520 million, while in September it predicted more like €570 million. Ryanair hopes low fares attract more passengers, who then spend more on other extras and services. Other budget airlines are competing for Ryanair's customers, eg. Norwegian Air Shuttle, Vueling and Wizz Air. Ryanair is to offer fully allocated seating from 2014 to try and improve its image - and attract business customers - as passengers complain about the rush to get on board to secure the best seats.
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Count us out of carbon-neutral growth measures, China and other major emerging countries tell ICAO
At the ICAO Assembly last month, it was agreed it would work towards a global market based measure (MBM) for aviation emissions, by 2020 - itself a weak position taking too long to start to deal with the issue. GreenAir online reports that now China says the adoption of a carbon-neutral growth goal from 2020 without differentiated responsibilities would impede development of its international aviation activities. China and other emerging countries, with fast expanding aviation, say that though they may want goals to reduce international aviation emissions, it should be the responsibility of the developed countries to make the cuts. ie. this is further wrangling within the ICAO, which is why the organisation has failed over decades to get any agreement on practical action on aviation emissions. To add to the obstacles in getting progress on a MBM, the USA has objected to the de minimis provisions [ie. that the smallest countries, which contribute each below 1% of global aviation CO2 are excluded] in the Assembly climate resolution and the inclusion of the differentiated responsibilities principle. The deep divisions remain on this issue, between the developed and developing world.
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Scotsman speculates that Heathrow Holdings may sell Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airport to raise cash for Heathrow runway
The Scotsman speculates that Heathrow Holdings Ltd (aka BAA) is considering selling Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports, for a figure in the range of £1 billion, so it can focus more on Heathrow and getting a third runway. Some 80 - 90% of its business comes from Heathrow. The Scotsman says it has learnt that Heathrow Airport Holdings has held talks with advisers with a view to seeking buyers. Ferrovial, which has reduced its stake in Heathrow to 25% since buying BAA in 2006, is thought to be considering a deal to buy out the other shareholders in the 3 regional airports. Heathrow Airports declined to comment, but analysts believe a decision to sell makes sense, particularly if the airport was to secure approval for the extra runway. The sale would help Heathrow raise capital for a new runway. The potential prices will depend on passenger numbers. It is speculated that Glasgow might sell for £600 million, and Aberdeen + Southampton might go for £450 - 500 million for the two. They are all thought to be marketable.
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Justine Greening: Expand Heathrow and we risk a plane crash in London
Cabinet minister Justine Greening has warned that expanding Heathrow would increase the risk of a plane crashing on London, stressing that “we cannot beat the odds forever”. She said it would be more likely that a plane would crash into a highly populated area of west London — either due to human error or a terrorist attack — if there were more flights. If that happened, there could be a lot of deaths and injuries. She was giving evidence to the Airports Commission when she said that despite Heathrow’s good safety record, human error meant that the risk of a crash could never be reduced to zero. She added: “In addition to that, aviation clearly faces other risks, not least terrorism. ...The higher the absolute number of aircraft movements, the higher the danger that even an ‘extremely low probability’ event may occur." She warned that allowing expansion at Heathrow would be “one of the biggest planning and transport strategy mistakes of this century, irreversibly blighting Londoners’ quality of life”.
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SSE tell Airports Commission robust evidence will be needed on financial viability of any new runway
The speech delivered by Sir Howard Davies, on 7 October 2013 was described as setting out the Airports Commission's 'Emerging Thinking' on aviation capacity in the UK. It took the form of setting out some of the main arguments against increasing runway capacity in the UK, and it then dismissed each in turn - and stated that "Our provisional conclusion is that we will need some net additional runway capacity in the south east of England in the coming decades". Stop Stansted Expansion has submitted their comments, which advise against building any new runway capacity. They argue that the speech contained very little in terms of hard evidence to support the conclusion favouring a new runway. SSE question the financial viability of a new runway, as there is already so much spare runway capacity, and say people will expect to see robust evidence to demonstrate the Commission's grounds for its confidence that projects proposed have commercial viability. SSE also says the current DfT demand forecasts are not nearly strong enough - or reliable enough - to support a business case for a new runway.
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Reported airline ancillary revenue $27.1 billion in 2012 – up 19.6% from 2011
Globally the amount of money that airlines made from ancillary services is growing faster than the amount they make from tickets. Research figures indicate that airlines made some $27 billion from ancillary services in 2012, up about 19% from 2011. Ancillary services include baggage fees, onboard food and drink, early boarding benefits, commission based activities, frequent flier activities, insurance, holiday booking, car hire and hotel booking. According to the research by Idea Works and Car Trawler, ancillaries now account for 6% of all airline revenue. Optional services such as onboard food and drinks, checked baggage and early boarding access now account for a bit over half (56%) of total airline ancillaries. The other 44% is "business opportunities linked to a passenger’s trip such as hotel and car rental bookings, and even the use of a co-branded credit card to accrue frequent flier miles or points.” Based on the total amount airlines earn from ancillary services, globally Ryanair was 6th in 2012 with € 1,064,200,000, AirFrance/KLM 7th with €924,000,000 and easyJet was 8th with €880,903,848.
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Green organisations tell Sir Howard Davies that allowing another runway jeopardises UK climate goals
Eight of the key environmental organisations in the UK have written an open letter to Sir Howard Davies, Chairman of the Airports Commission, to express their concern about the Commission's "emerging thinking" that more runway capacity is needed for the south east, as expressed in Sir Howard's speech on 7th October. They have serious concerns about how adding a new runway could be compatible with UK climate targets, and they call on the Commission to demonstrate how its recommendations will avoid gambling on our future ability to meet the UK climate target. The NGOs say the Committee on Climate Change's analysis concluded that stabilising UK aviation’s emissions at their 2005 level could translate to a maximum 60% growth in the number of passengers at UK airports. They set out 4 key arguments why no new runway capacity is needed even if passenger numbers are permitted to grow by up to 60%. They also urge the Commission to retain a “no new runways” option in its deliberations as the best way of achieving the targets set in the UK Climate Change Act. The eight green NGOs which have signed the letter are: Aviation Environment Federation; Campaign for Better Transport; Friends of the Earth; Greenpeace; RSPB; Stop Climate Chaos; The Woodland Trust; WWF-UK.
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Opposition in Kerala, southern India, to proposed airport at Anakkara – with displacement of people and destruction of agricultural land
The Indian government is keen to increase the flow of tourists into Kerala. Though there are two large airports which serve the area, at Kochi and Thiruvanthapuran, there is pressure to build more. One of the sites under threat of an airport is Anakkara, which is inland, and less than 150 km from Madurai airport. There is considerable opposition - one source says the local people are united in their opposition - in the area, which is an agricultural area. The airport would take well over 500 acres, much of which now grows paddy, as well as pepper, coffee and cardamom cultivation areas. There is an Anti-Airport Agitation Council that is fighting the plans. They say hundreds of families would have to be relocated, as the area is densely populated. The purpose of the airport is solely to increase tourism, and would largely benefit the private sector. Those opposing the Anakkara plans have set up social networking campaign sites such s Save Anakkara Blog and Anti-Anakkara Airport on Facebook, explaining reasons why the airport project should not be implemented.
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Heathrow payment of £160 million boosts profits at Ferrovial
Heathrow Airport paid out £160m to its majority shareholder Ferrovial in the first nine months of the year, helping to boost net profit at Ferrovial by 2%. Ferrovial received dividends of €355m from its investments in airports and toll roads - causing Ferrovial's net profit to rise to €485m (£414m) in the nine months to September 30th. Heathrow had performed “exceptionally well” during the period, paying out £476m to its shareholders - including the Qatari and Chinese sovereign wealth funds -during the period, although the sum was inflated by a £300m one-off return from the sale of Stansted to MAG in February. Last week Ferrovial sold an 8.65% stake in Heathrow to the Universities Superannuation Scheme, for £392m, pushing its holding down to 25%. Ferrovial said funds from the USS deal would “greatly enhance the company’s flexibility to undertake new investments orientated towards international expansion”. British Airways has accused Heathrow of generating “excessive” returns for its shareholders at the cost of its customers.
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Durham Tees Valley Airport scraps mainstream holiday flights – now just links to Schiphol, Aberdeen and Jersey
Durham Tees Valley Airport has decided, after a review of its business, to axe its holiday flights in order to concentrate on business travel. The struggling airport will continue passenger flights to Amsterdam, Aberdeen and Jersey only - but all holiday charters will end next summer. Scheduled daily passenger flights to Schiphol (Amsterdam) - operated by KLM - and Eastern Airways' flights to Aberdeen will continue as normal, and Flybe link to Jersey. But the airport will be "streamlining operations and moving away from all mainstream holiday charter programmes". Tour operators affected by the move are Thomson/First Choice and Balkan Holidays. Thomson Holidays has cancelled its two flight destinations for 2014 from Durham Tees Valley. The terminal will undergo changes, making the operational area smaller . Investment in the new layout will make it more suited to customers on scheduled flights with "new retail offerings and business services". They are trying to keep some aviation use for the airport and will have their masterplan for public consultation from mid-November.
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IATA air freight data over the past year month by month – slowing very small growth
IATA monthly data show global air freight is only rising very slowly indeed, with falls in some months. For instance, measuring FTK (Freight Tonne Kilometres) the increase was +0.5% in September 2013; + 3.5% in August; + 1.2% in July; + 1.2% in June 2013; + 0.8% in May 2013; + 1.4% in April 2013; - 2.3% in March 2013; - 6.2% in Feb 2013 ; + 5.0% in Jan 2013; - 0.3% in Dec 2013; + 1.6% in Nov 2012; and -.3.5% in Oct 2012. For all of 2012, the amount of freight was down - 1.5% compared to 2011. And in 2011 the total number of freight kilometres was itself down by - 0.7% compared to 2010. At present, the total freight traffic market shares by region of carriers in terms of FTK are: Asia-Pacific 38.8%, Europe 23.9%, North America 20.8%, Middle East 12.0%, Latin America 3.1%, Africa 1.4%. In 2012 the only regions that saw a growth in air freight were Africa and the Middle East. All other regions saw a decline; this was - 2.9% in Europe. In 2011 there were approximately 29.7 millions tonnes air freighted.
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Public consultation on London City Airport planning applications extended to 18th December
Newham Council are extending their public consultation on London City Airport planning applications to midday on 18 December 2013. The deadline had been 28th October, but the application is mainly online, and the council planning website was down during some of the time. The planning application was presented in such an impenetrable manner on the Newham website that it was effectively impossible for ordinary people to understand what was proposed. Now Newham says that : "Due to the number of responses to the London City Airport planning consultation, including many who have asked for extra time to submit a response, we have decided to extend the deadline.... The major planning applications propose additional infrastructure, passenger facilities and a new hotel at the airport. We will shortly be publicising the extended consultation deadline including writing to more than 25,000 homes in the local area." Local campaigners welcomed the extension and said the impacts of the expansion by London City Airport will affect the local area for generations to come, so it is important that local residents have the opportunity to get their voices heard. .
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UK looks to increase number of UK – China flights through renewed bilateral agreement
UK Transport minister Patrick McLoughlin has agreed to start negotiations with China in early 2014 to increase the number of flights allowed between the two countries. This would need an updated bilateral agreement with China. At present each country has a "bilateral agreement" with each other country - the aim of which was initially to prevent airlines of rich countries dominating those of poor countries, in providing air links. Currently the bilateral agreement between the UK and China, which was signed in 2004, limits each country’s airlines to a total of 31 return flights per week between 6 destinations in both the UK and China. Patrick McLoughlin hopes that increasing this number of flights would be good "for trade, tourism and forging new partnerships, strengthening the links between our two countries.” The DfT said more flights could increase the amount that visiting Chinese nationals spend in the UK, which was around £300 million in 2012. The DfT also hopes this could "benefit the increasing number of UK companies who regularly travel to China.”
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Packed seminar confirms opposition to any new Gatwick runway
A packed seminar organised jointly by CPRE Surrey, CPRE Sussex and GACC on 25th October examined the arguments for and against a new runway at Gatwick. Some 150 representatives of county councils, borough, district and parish councils, planning officers and other experts, the Wildlife Trusts, plus four local MPs and one Member of the European Parliament, crowded into the conference centre at the Stanhill Court Hotel. There was also support from national representatives from WWF, and the National Trust. The opening speech was made by Cabinet member, Rt Hon Francis Maude, who said that the voice of opposition ‘needed to be heard with clarion certainty.’ Great concern was expressed about drawing more workers and passengers from around the country, climate change, increased noise, the impact of 40,000 extra houses, the pressure on schools, hospitals, local road and rail services. Also the recent unconventional decision by West Sussex council to support a new runway, on which the public had not been consulted. A resolution that “Those here would oppose any new runway at Gatwick airport” was passed with overwhelming support.
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Guernsey’s new €93 million airport upgrade set for completion by end of October
Guernsey’s new airport upgrade project is set to be completed by end of October 2013. The redevelopment was originally planned to take 22 months, but is set to be completed two months ahead of schedule. The work, which began in March 2012, includes removal of an dip in the runway. There is also a 120 metre runway extension to the west. This means the operational length of the runway is 1,463 metres, but the airport says the extension provides longer safety areas at both ends of the runway. The existing taxiway had to be extended to link the western end with the rest of the airfield, and complete reconstruction of the airport’s apron area and the terminal. They have also moved the approach lights, installing new ground lighting and navigational aids and relaying all surfaces. Guernsey airport has about 800 - 900,000 passengers per year, making it a bit less busy than Cardiff or Prestwick.
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Heathrow spreading ‘scare stories’ over investors, claims Willie Walsh
Willie Walsh, the boss of IAG, has rebuked Heathrow over investment claims and accused Heathrow of spreading “scare stories” and expertly “gaming” Britain’s regulatory system to bump up prices for airlines and passengers. He hit out at Heathrow over claims that it will lose investors if it is not allowed to generate higher returns. He said last week’s £392m purchase by Britain’s 2nd biggest pension scheme of a stake in the hub “blows a hole” in the airport’s arguments. The deal saw the Universities Superannuation Scheme buy an 8.65% holding from Ferrovial, Heathrow’s top investor. The sale was struck at a 13% premium to Heathrow’s Regulatory Asset Base – the regulator’s proxy for the airport’s value. Willie Walsh said that without question there is no shortage of investors who would be willing to take a stake in Heathrow. "It is almost insulting that they announce the sale of a stake to a significant player like USS at the same time that they have been arguing that if they don’t get excessive reward at Heathrow, investors will leave.”
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Nobel laureates demand European Commission action to classify oil from tar sands as very high carbon
Twenty-one Nobel prize winners, many of whom have won Nobel Peace Prizes, have urged the EU to immediately implement the Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) which would label tar sands as higher carbon ("dirtier") than other fuels. The Nobel laureates say the extraction of unconventional fuels – such as oil sands and oil shale – is having a particularly devastating impact on climate change. The powerful letter has attempted to restart the discussion about how tar sands and oil shale should be treated in the EU, a discussion that has been delayed for too long, following a massive lobbying campaign by Canada, the US and the global oil industry. Conventional oil has been given a value of 87.5g of CO2 equivalent per megajoule. In comparison, tar sands oil has a value of 107g, oil shale 131g and coal-to-liquid 172g. The laureates quote IEA warnings that unconventional fuel sources are especially damaging to the environment and climate, and its calculation that two-thirds of known fossil-fuel reserves must be left in the ground ‘to avoid catastrophic climate change’. The letter says the time for positive action is now. The EU can demonstrate clear and unambiguous leadership on this.
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Treasury Minister confirms APD is necessary and government has no plans to reduce it
On 23rd October there was an "Opposition day debate" in the Commons, on Air Passenger Duty -especially in relation to Northern Ireland. There were attempts by some MPs with no interest in environmental concerns, to make out that APD is a "green tax", (and so, along with other "green taxes" should be cut, in the misjudged belief that would benefit the UK economy. The new Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Nicky Morgan, replied for the government, that "we must continue to work hard to reduce the deficit, so if we were to abolish APD, an alternative source for the revenue would need to be found. We never seem to hear any suggestions," and "....the £3 billion that is raised by APD is a significant contribution to the Exchequer when we are tackling the deficit." And "There is also no duty charged on the fuel used in international, and virtually all domestic, flights. .....despite the fiscal challenges, the Government have ensured that APD rates have been frozen in real terms since 2010, rising by just £1 for the vast majority of passengers since then. The Government therefore reject the suggestion that we have pushed taxes on aviation too high."
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Manchester airport 28.5 ha car park in public safety zone given go-ahead, despite safety fears from residents
Plans for a 'gigantic' 9,000-space car park under Manchester Airport's flight path have been approved – despite claims it is an accident 'waiting to happen'. Manchester council agreed the proposals at its latest planning meeting, prompting shock from local residents. The airport says it needs the long-stay facility, near the Moss Nook area of Wythenshawe, to replace a 3,000-space car park being lost to part of the Airport City development. The airport claims it would cut traffic and pollution. But the plans will mean building in the airport's 'public safety zone' – the area around the end of a busy runway that is usually left undeveloped to protect people from planes. The risk of a plane crashing, on landing or take-off, is highest there. Residents and ward councillors fear any future plane crash would cause a massive explosion because thousands of petrol tanks would be in one place. Petitions containing more than 2,200 signatures were submitted opposing the move, along with 34 formal letters of objections, while local ward councillors had already voted against it last month. The car park will take uk at least 28.5 hectares of green land.
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London City Airport expansion plan – inadequate consultation by Newham – but campaigners have produced guidance on how to respond
London City Airport applied back in July for expansion. While the application does not propose to increase the number of flights, it crucially changes the split between scheduled jets and jet centre movements leading to a change in the 2010 baseline public safety zone. The application is to demolish some buildings and structures, and upgrade four aircraft stands, adding 7 new aircraft parking stands. It would also mean extension and modification of the existing airfield, including the creation of an extended taxi lane.There would be changes to parking and vehicle access, and an extension to the terminal building. The consultation in on the Newham Council website (though on some days it has not bee accessible) - it ends on 28th October. There is a huge list of documents, with no accessible detail, making comment by ordinary people nearly impossible. London City Airport campaigners have located the key information, and produced a simple response email which anyone can (adapt and) use. There are real fears of more noise from the airport and building space removed form the enlarged public safety zones. Do send in a reply if you agree these proposals should be opposed.
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Tiny Cambridge airport joins the bandwagon, of connecting flights to Schiphol or Paris
Much is said about the possibility of people in the UK taking flights to Amsterdam (or it could be Paris) to get other flights from there - avoiding going via a London airport. Now tiny Cambridge airport, with so few passengers that the CAA data only just record t hem, is claiming it is an international airport, with some flights laid on to Schiphol and Paris, from where people can get onward connections. The airport claims it is much faster to pass through the tiny airport than it would be at a larger London airport. It is making much of the link from Schiphol or Paris to the USA. To be honest, there are a large number of airports that already have flights to Amsterdam. Anyone flying only from the UK to Paris / Amsterdam would pay only the APD for the short haul flight, so they could save themselves so me £45 -50 or so. For anyone flying west from the UK to the USA, going via the European mainland does not make a lot of sense, geographically. Or in terms of carbon. But if they are flying east, and change at some European airport, at least they are taking the pressure off the crowded south east airports. Schiphol seems eager to get its hands on Brits.
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Verdict on Heathrow runways Operational Freedoms trial – a ‘lot of pain for very little gain’
Campaigners against Heathrow expansion have said tests on using runways more intensively had been “a lot of pain for very little gain”. It follows an official verdict - by the CAA - that experiments carried out into methods of speeding up take-offs and landings had been “inconclusive”. John Stewart, of Hacan, said: “It appears that these trials brought little benefit to the airport. But they did deprive residents of their much-valued half-day’s break from the noise. To bring them back would be a lot of pain for very little gain.” Heathrow is seeking operational freedoms to make itself more resilient to disruptions. The two sets of trials held last year and in early 2012 failed to show clear-cut benefits, leading the CAA to conclude: “It is extremely difficult to reach any strong conclusions on the benefit or otherwise of the trial.” There had been a surge in complaints during the tests. Aviation minister Robert Goodwill has asked the Airports Commission to make a recommendation on the operational freedoms in its interim report in December.
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AOA makes some unjustifable conclusions from a survey, giving the misleading impression of business dissatisfaction with air links
The Airport Operators Association (AOA) held their two day conference this week. They have put out a press announcement, attempting to make out that a lot of business leaders are not satisfied with existing, or future, air links from the UK. This is a classic case of being able to make almost anything out of a set of numbers, if the aim is public relations spin! Business figures were asked, in a telephone poll, what they thought about UK air links to existing, traditional overseas markets, and to emerging overseas markets. Though the AOA claim that "less than half" were satisfied with UK air links - the figures actually show only some 9 - 10% or so were fairly dissatisfied (only about 2 - 3 % very dissatisfied) and 90% or more were either satisfied or did not know. The AOA add in the "don't know" category. The AOA also asked these business figures if they were confident that the Airports Commission "will deliver solutions for the UK's connectivity needs" and said about 40% are not confident. However, the figures are all over the place, and in reality, slightly more say they are confident that the Commission will deliver and large number expressed a "don't know" opinion.
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Willie Walsh tells AOA that a Heathrow 3rd runway will never be built – it is too politically difficult
Willie Walsh has said - at the Airport Operators Association in London - that a 3rd runway at Heathrow will “never” be built - as he claims politicians will always put their election campaigns over national interests. He said nimbyism will stop politicians from doing anything with the findings of Sir Howard Davies’s Airports Commission - and a new Heathrow runway is just politically too difficult.” He claims, rather bitterly, that “This is politics with a small ‘p’. The national interest gets lost as the individual politicians look to understand how this will impact on them getting elected.” Perhaps he is also considering self interest. Sir Howard Davies, also speaking at the AOA conference, said of the airport capacity/new runway decision: “Realistically this is the sort of decision that gets made early in a Parliament if it gets made at all,” as it is too contentious to be dealt with by politicians in the run-up to an election. The Airports Commission know any new runway would take “a decade or more to come into effect” and the process will likely be delayed by legal challenges. The commission already faces the threat of a judicial review after campaign group, Stop Stansted Expansion, initiated legal proceedings earlier this month.
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India and the USA oppose EU plan to include flights within European airspace in ETS
India has said it will oppose the EU's plan to include flights from all airlines in European airspace (other than airlines from most developing countries). The USA also opposes the plan, with a US politician saying the EU proposal is contrary to a law intended to shield US airlines from such charges. Last week the European Commission proposed making all airlines pay for emissions only over European airspace - rather than the original system in which the carbon from the full length of all flights using EU airports. USA, India and China want the EU to back down, so no aviation emissions anywhere are included in a charging system. India and China contribute well over 1% of global aviation CO2, so they were included, unlike smaller and poor countries. Reuters says that along with China, India has defied the EU, even refusing to submit emissions data before the EU suspended it for a year amid threats of a trade war. The US might go as far as invoking a law signed by President Barack Obama in November 2012 that would shield Us airlines from what US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx may deem to be an unfair charge.
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On Monday, opponents of the Frankfurt 4th runway celebrated the 2nd anniversary of their weekly protests
At Frankfurt, the Monday evening protests continue. They have just had, on Monday 21st, the second anniversary of the start of the protests. There have been so far a total of 75 Monday evening airport protests, and 19 vigils. Some of the terminal protests (German airport terminals are deemed to be public property, so people cannot legally be prevented from gathering there) had over 1,000 people. This week it was perhaps 250, but still noisy and determined. Residents now suffering aircraft noise, and an incomplete night fight ban say Fluglarm macht krank (aircraft noise makes you sick) and fear they are not only unproductive at work, and stressed, but also suffering health impacts from the noise and disturbed sleep. They are deeply opposed to the proposed plans to build a third airport terminal, which they say is not needed, and which would only contribute to pressure for yet more flights. Asian travellers passing through the airport are reported to be amazed and bemused, and take photos of the protests to send back home to their friends and family. Local politicians know the airport, and any expansion, is a toxic issue for voters.
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Ferrovial sells Heathrow stake to UK pension fund – the Universities Superannualtion Scheme – for £392m
Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial has further reduced its stake in Heathrow after agreeing to sell 8.65% of the airports group to UK pension fund, the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), for £392m. The USS is one of the UK's largest pension funds and is the scheme for universities and other higher education institutions in the UK. The deal, which values Heathrow at £4.5 billion,(plus the extra value of some £10 billion in debts) is the 4th time Ferrovial has trimmed its holding in Heathrow (or BAA as it was) in 2 years. It reduces Ferrovial's stake to 25%, down from 62% when it bought BAA in 2006 in a £10.3 billion deal. Heathrow Airport Holdings has, since 2006, had to sell Edinburgh, Gatwick and Stansted, but still owns Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports. Ferrovial will remain the largest shareholder in Heathrow following the deal with USS, which is expected to complete on Thursday. USS will hold the 7th biggest stake behind China Investment Corporation which bought 10% of Heathrow in October 2012.
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Greenwash (inaccurate) statement: “Less CO2 per passenger by air than by car says Virgin”
The aviation industry knows it is provides an exceptionally high carbon way to travel, and is keen to find ways to try to disguise this fact. In reality, a passenger on a medium length flight (2,000 - 4,000 miles or so) in a modern plane is probably responsible for roughly the same amount of carbon as someone driving the same distance alone in a car that does an average around 48 miles per gallon (like at Toyota Yaris). That is excluding non-CO2 climate effects. Approximate figures - each car trip (including number of passengers) is different, as is each plane trip. Saying that air travel per passenger is lower carbon than a car journey is missing the point for two important reasons: 1. Most people would think twice about driving 3,000 or 4,000 miles. And back. It is easy and quick (as well as much cheaper) by plane. So people make these trips more often, and are encouraged to travel more. 2. Figures do not take in to the non-CO2 impacts of aircraft emissions, which are likely to approximately double the climate impact. So now Virgin are trying to make out that flying is lower carbon than driving. This is disingenuous nonsense - comparing chalk and cheese - and is choosing very carefully which figures to use. As WWF-UK point out, Virgin is increasing its number of passengers, and getting people to fly more often, as fast as it can, so raising the overall emissions. Don't be hoodwinked by the greenwash!
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Big airports need to grow, says aviation minister Robert Goodwill
Speaking at the Airport Operators Association (AOA) conference on 21st October, Robert Goodwill - who is the new aviation minister - said it was "vital that we support growth in [the aviation] sector" and that the UK "needs to grow its hub capacity," to sustain a wide range of long-haul flights. Listing the recent investment in airports including Birmingham, Manchester and Stansted, he said: "All these good news stories do not, however, provide the hub capacity we need to grow." Goodwill said that the government's main message was that "aviation needs to grow, to support economic expansion, whilst giving due respect to the wider environment and the quality of life of those on the ground". At the same conference Sir Howard Davies reiterated his recent provisional thinking that there is a need to build new runways in the southeast. The AOA now hopes there will no longer be debate over whether there is a need for another runway, but just where it will be. A recent survey done for the AOA showed that only 8% of the businessmen surveyed were dissatisfied with the UK's international air links to either traditional destinations or emerging markets. A tiny minority.
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GACC warns that new flight paths proposed by NATS and Gatwick airport could affect thousands around Gatwick
GACC has reacted strongly to proposals to revamp many of the existing flight paths around Gatwick , which have been put forward for consultation jointly by NATS and Gatwick Airport Ltd. These plans, which are nothing to do with a 2nd runway, include new flight paths over areas which are at present peaceful – in order to increase the number of aircraft able to use the runway; more concentrated flight paths based on more accurate aircraft navigation, which will effectively make life hell for many people affected; a major reform of the pattern of aircraft queuing up to land, which will bring aircraft noise to many areas currently not affected; and the possibility of ‘respite’ by using two flight paths on alternate days. This consultation includes nothing to show where the new flight paths might be. Instead it is couched in general terms, asking people to comment on broad concepts. There are no maps, and it is apparently intended that no maps will be produced until after the end of the consultation, and NATS and Gatwick do not intend to hold a second consultation. GACC is advising its members to study the new consultation and to express their views forcefully.
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The need for “Arctic free fuel” – can ethical businesses justify using oil drilled in the Arctic?
In his blog in Business Green, James Murray writes of the potential to get businesses which aspire to be ethically and environmentally responsible to refuse to use oil drilled from the Arctic. James says it is clear that not all is the same ethically, and the dangers of damage to the Arctic from drilling make it even worse than other sources. Should an ethical business be using fuel that has been sourced from one of the world's few remaining pristine habitats, particularly when the record of those companies seeking to drill in some of the planet's most hostile conditions is already laughably poor? Oil companies will try to claim Arctic oil cannot be separated from other oil, but that really should not be beyond the wit of oil executives.. Now is the time for the world's biggest corporate consumers - the airlines, the food giants, the logistics companies - to declare that they want no part of the reckless oil rush in the Arctic, and they won't buy Arctic oil. What's needed is a group of progressive CEOs, from airlines, consumer goods firms, clothing companies etc to send out the "Arctic-free fuel" message.
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Economist: Proposed EU rules on state aid aim to stem the flow of money from taxpayers’ pockets to Ryanair
Article in the Economist gives a useful set of insights into airport subsidies at small airports across Europe, which are now due to be reduced after consultation. The Economist says Europe has over 450 airports, mostly small and loss-making. About 85% are publicly owned. Local politicians’ enthusiastic sponsorship of airports, to boost regional economies, has in turn contributed to the rapid growth of low-cost airlines, since the airports have used their subsidies to offer cheap landing fees and other sweeteners to persuade the cheap carriers to fly there. Ryanair is the sole or dominant carrier at many of the airports under investigation, and has been getting effective subsidies of as much as €11 per passenger. There may be as much as €3 billion of taxpayers’ money given in EU-approved aid to small airports each year, and more that is not sanctioned. EU laws ban state aid if it seriously distorts markets and though there have been many investigations into this, none has yet reached a conclusion. Some smaller airports will find it hard to pay Ryanair and other budget airlines enough to keep them flying there. With tighter rules, some of the 80-odd European airports with under 1m passengers will be at risk of closing.
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“BackHeathrow” (paid for by airport – not a grass roots campaign), send biased scare-mongering survey to half a million
A lobbying group - called BackHeathrow - funded by Heathrow Airport is to distribute a survey to half a million homes, to try and get some favourable views on a new Heathrow runway.They are using fear as a tactic, to get local people worried that they might lose their jobs if the airport was not allowed to expand. There is, of course, no prospect of Heathrow being closed - the BackHeathrow tactic is irresponsible and ill-advised. John McDonnell, the MP for Hayes and Harlington, bordering Heathrow to the north and under threat from a northern runway, said it was just another front organisation funded by the airport and another cynical spurious public relations exercise. John Stewart, chairman of HACAN, said BackHeathrow claims it is a grass roots campaign but no grass roots campaign has the sort of funding to send out half a million surveys. This is astoturfing, not a real citizens' initiative. BackHeathrow survey results must be treated with great scepticism, when/if they come out. It's so badly worded & biased as to be valueless. The "Have you stopped beating your wife?" type questions in the BackHeathrow survey are so loaded they'd make you laugh if they didn't make you angry.
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Speech against the “Grands projets inutiles et imposés” at European Commission’s Trans-European Transport Networks conference
There was a European Commission conference in Talinn on 16-17th October, organised through Infrastructure TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Networks). A similar meeting has been held annually for several years. Its aim was for European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, Ministers, Members of the European Parliament and key stakeholders to gather to discuss the future development of the trans-European transport network. One of the speeches at the conference was by Madeleine Wahlberg, who has spent many years researching and lecturing in the planning and public policy field, particularly focusing on the decision processes behind major schemes. She spoke of the Grands projets inutiles et imposés (big, unnecessary imposed projects) across Europe - such as huge road schemes, airport building, high speed rail lines, motorways and barrages. She made the point that opponents of these huge schemes want social justice,and they want transport that is environmentally responsible, that adopts a Life Cycle Assessment and that applies the precautionary principle. Current TEN-T proposals embody massive environmental destruction.
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‘Norwegian’ to challenge BA and Virgin by launching £150 flights to New York from Gatwick
Transatlantic fares from £150, one way, will be on offer from the UK when the low-cost carrier, Norwegian, begins new long-haul services from Gatwick in summer 2014 - using a Dreamliner 787. From July 2014 it will fly from Gatwick to New York (3 times per week), Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale (twice a week each). The introductory fares, one way, will be New York £149, Fort Lauderdale £179 and Los Angeles £199. Norwegian's chief executive Bjorn Kjos said: ‘There's great demand for high-quality flights at a low fare between the UK and the US, particularly to and from Gatwick." These are largely holiday flights. Gatwick is excited about the new flights, as it wants to compete with Heathrow for long haul routes. Norwegian currently offers 320 weekly flights and 25 routes from Gatwick, and in January 2012, it announced a large aircraft order,of 122 Boeing 737 aircraft as part of a significant expansion. Last month Ryanair's Michael O’Leary announced he is planning ‘ten buck’ transatlantic flights to the United States, when he can get the right planes.
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Put the “No New Runway” option back on the table, AEF tells Sir Howard Davies
Writing in the Huffington Post, James Lees ( (Research and Communications Officer, Aviation Environment Federation - AEF) says the Airports Commission is wrong in its preliminary conclusion - announced by Sir Howard Davies on 7th October - that a new runway is needed. In his blog James goes through the list of strong arguments why no new runway capacity is needed. These include climate impacts. The CCC guidance suggests the number of air passengers could perhaps rise by 60% over 2005 levels, by 2050. However, this does not take any account of the non-CO2 impacts of air travel. Even allowing for 60% more passengers means the carbon emissions from UK aviation would rise to be a quarter of total UK emissions and require large carbon reductions from other sectors to meet the UK's 2050 target. And if a runway is built, how do we put the brakes on the aviation industry's growth? James concludes that Sir Howard is aware of all these arguments, but has made the wrong conclusion. "To show that he really is 'alive to the climate change problem', Sir Howard should put the no new runway option back on the table."
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Is there a need for extra airport capacity? No says GACC in their response to Sir Howard Davies
In his speech on 7th October, Sir Howard went carefully through a list of reasons why more airport capacity in the south east is not needed, before concluding - in the second part of his speech gave his preliminary conclusion that a new runway would be needed. His speech is out for consultation until 31st October. In their response, GACC (Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign) say there is no need for a new runway. A few of their reasons include deficiencies in forecasts of future numbers of flights and passengers; also that over the past 20 years the number of passengers per aircraft had been increasing by 2% a year but DfT forecasts only assumed a 0.2% annual increase in future. GACC suggests the use of larger aircraft could be encouraged if airports based their landing charges on a per aircraft basis rather than, as at present, on the aircraft size and per passenger. GACC says the environmental disadvantages of each potential runway site may be so great that they should and will influence the decision as to whether or not extra capacity should be provided. There would also be adverse north-south in-migration problems.
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