Latest News
Latest news stories:
OECD statistics shows slow air cargo growth in 2011 first half
Date added: 16 September, 2011
International trade statistics for the 1st half of 2011 show growth in global freight has slowed. The recovery has faltered and volumes are now only 9% above pre-crisis levels in the EU area compared to 15% in [February 2011]. In the US external trade in tonnes of goods carried by air is 2% above the pre-crisis peak. Air freight between the US, or the EU, and China also slowed. However, some in the industry still expect 4.5 to 5.5% annual growth.
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European Commission – Clean Transport Systems initiative – consultation ends 6th October
Date added: 16 September, 2011
The EC has a current consultation on future fuels in Europe, including biofuels in a big way, and including aviation. It presumes biofuels are a "good thing" and just asks how much, and with what priority, and on what time scale etc. It asks for views on fuel mix, including various forms of alternative fuels, in 2020, 2030 and 2050, and its stated aim is to modernise and decarbonise the transport sector. A good chance to send in concerns about the rush to biofuels.
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Aviation industry and politicians in Northern Ireland lobby for lower APD
Date added: 16 September, 2011
There are fears in Northern Ireland that its economic competitiveness could be threatened by APD, in particular as the tax is lower in the Replublic of Ireland (at only €3). The Executive wants Northern Ireland to be made a special case, like the outlaying Scottish islands, which are exempt from APd. As with corporation tax, it believes the province qualifies for special treatment because it borders another country that can undercut it tax-wise.
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BAA seeks judicial review on airport sales
Date added: 15 September, 2011
BAA said it will seek a judicial review of a UK competition authority ruling requiring it to sell off London Stansted airport and one of its Scottish hubs. The appeal is the latest twist in a long battle between BAA and the Competition Commission, going back to 2009. Stop Stansted Expansion said it is appalling behaviour and an abuse of the legal process, just aimed at trying to cling onto Stansted for as long as possible in the hope of obtaining a better price.
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European Commission Caves in to Industry Over Biofuel Rules – Global Forest Coalition Demands Precautionary Approach
Date added: 15 September, 2011
In a long-awaited announcement last week, the EC decided to entirely ignore the indirect climate impacts of agrofuels for up to 7 more years. Instead of using the precautionary principle, the agofuel industry has been given the benefit of the doubt. The EU Renewable Energy Directive exempt all agrofuels produced in installations including palm oil and sugar cane mills operating by the end of 2012 from any ‘penalties’ over their indirect impacts until the end of 2017.
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Ryanair passenger ‘threatened with arrest’ after she refused to leave overbooked holiday flight to Manchester
Date added: 15 September, 2011
Quite an interesting story, of how inefficient Ryanair is on booking its passengers onto planes. Having booked every last seat, due to an error with an infant over the age of two needing its own seat, a girl passenger was chosen to get off the plane, only because she had apparently been the last to board. Then Ryanair offered anyone €300 to get off the plane instead. The girl is somewhat traumatised by the incident. At least they are flying their planes full ...
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‘Serious’ Error Found in Carbon Savings for Biofuels
Date added: 15 September, 2011
The EU is overestimating the reductions in CO2 emissions from use of biofuels
as a result of a “serious accounting error,” according to a draft opinion by an
influential committee of 19 scientists and academics. They write that any CO2
reduction should be measured by how much additional CO2 such crops absorb beyond
what would have been absorbed anyway by existing fields, forests and grasslands.
Instead, the EU has been “double counting” some of the savings.
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Ryanair pulls last route from Aberdeen Airport
Date added: 14 September, 2011
Ryanair is to pull its only remaining route from Aberdeen, following a breakdown in talks with BAA. The airline said it would end its Aberdeen to Dublin route ib 28th October, claiming BAA had refused to extend a low-cost deal. The airport said the route was served by other carriers. Ryanair said BAA failed to match the competitive cost deals which are available to Ryanair elsewhere. The route had not proved profitable.
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Airlines inclusion in the EU ETS from January – FT article
Date added: 12 September, 2011
From 1st Jan 2012 airlines will have to account for the emissions produced on flights to and from EU airports. In the first year of the scheme, airlines will be given allowances matching 82% of their historic emissions, with 15% auctioned and the remaining 3% held in a special reserve for new entrants. Interesting FT article about the process, how little it will cost some airlines, and on the various protest of airlines about inclusion in the ETS.
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BA ready to bid for BMI’s take off slots to expand at Heathrow
Date added: 11 September, 2011
BA is likely to bid for Lufthansa-owned BMI, the 2nd biggest operator at Heathrow airport. Lufthansa wants to sell or break up BMI, which is loss-making. IAG wants BMI, not for the whole airline, but for its valuable take off and landing slots at overcrowded Heathrow. BMI has 11%pc of Heathrow'scapacity – valued at £770m 3 years ago – while BA controls 42% and Iberia 2%. Any addition would raise regulatory and monopoly issues that need to be overcome.
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Beijing set to become world’s busiest aviation hub with new mega-airport and 120 million passengers per year by 2015
Date added: 11 September, 2011
Proposals for staggeringly huge 3rd Beijing airport could mean 120 million passengers pass through the Chinese capital a year, overtaking London as the world's busiest aviation hub. Details are yet to be announced. It could have 9 runways. This aviation expansion will contribute to China's already dire pollution problems and high CO2 emissions. The existing main airport handled 73.9 million passengers in 2010 and this may rise by 2015 to 90 million.
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Safety worries after block of ice lands on house in Bisley, Surrey
Date added: 10 September, 2011
A block of ice fell thousands of feet from an aircraft travelling overhead and damaged the roof of a Bisley home on 20th August. The householder is concerned about the safety of his grandchildren, who had been playing in the garden, shortly before. He has not been able to determine whether the offending aircraft was a small private plane or a commercial airliner, now fears a costly bill to repair the damage. There are many other such incidents each year.
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Bimingham airport to get subsidy out of public funds for its runway
Date added: 10 September, 2011
Here is another subsidy to the aviation industry. Birmingham council has issued invitations to tender for the runway extension and road diversion - about £70 million. It seems Birmingham and other councils will pay for the road, and the airport for the runway extension. But the councils are majority shareholders in the airport. There is also a pledge of £15.7m from the Regional Growth Fund. So while severe spending cuts are being made, the public has to fund airport growth.
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BA has joined the UK Carbon Reporting Framework to help fund UK carbon reduction projects
Date added: 2 September, 2011
On 30th August, a new Framework was launched, developed in a partnership between
BRE, BA (the first company), Deloitte and Forum for the Future. The Framework
acts as a matchmaker between carbon reduction projects, like community owned renewable
energy installations or energy efficient refurbishment of social housing and organisations
wishing to support such projects in the UK. Companies can fund carbon saving projects
and so get credits.
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Stobart group hits back at Carlisle airport critics and claims flights are viable
Date added: 1 September, 2011
Stobart Group has tabled documents with Carlisle City Council outlining proposals for regular passenger flights to London Southend, Belfast and Dublin. It says less frequent flights could operate to Inverness, Cardiff, Bristol, Southampton, Exeter, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands, and possibly European destinations. And that Carlisle can become an air-freight hub for Tesco, flying in perishable goods from Spain and Holland for delivery to supermarkets.
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“Families should skip foreign holidays to cut carbon emissions, says Government adviser”
Date added: 1 September, 2011
The previous administration set a target of to reduce aviation’s CO2 emissions to 2005 levels by 2050. This target is currently under review by the Coalition. Foreign travel was highlighted in the recent report for the DfT to draw up proposals for cutting the environmental impact of aviation. It suggests that a range of potential measures, including awareness of carbon footprint, to voluntarily reduce the demand for air travel could be targeted at passengers.
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Call for Lydd Airport expansion inquiry to be extended
Date added: 1 September, 2011
Campaigners opposing the airport's expansion plans have called for a public inquiry, which ends in 2 weeks, to be extended. The airport in Kent wants to lengthen its runway and build a new terminal to provide an international service. The new runway would be within 0.3 miles of Greatstone Primary School, and campaigners want more evidence on the noise impacts on the school as it was important the childrens' education did not suffer.
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New report shows Heathrow has better business connectivity than any European rivals and is “In a Class of its Own”
Date added: 27 August, 2011
A new report from AirportWatch shows Heathrow’s links to the world’s main business
centres dwarf those of its European rivals. "International Air Connectivity for Business," shows that Heathrow has 990 departures each week to key business destinations
in Asia, Latin America, North America and Europe, more than the combined total
of its closest rivals, Charles de Gaulle, Paris and Frankfurt airports. Taking
Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted together, they have more than double the number of flights
to key business destinations each week compared with Paris, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam’s.
The report concludes that it is not a question of lack of capacity for UK airports
but how best that capacity can be used, making the most of our already superior
business connectivity while capping CO2 emissions from aviation..
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London’s main airports to reach bursting point in 2030
Date added: 26 August, 2011
The DfT's growth forecasts show that Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted would reach capacity within 20 years. Boris Johnson stepped up pressure on the coalition to abandon its opposition to building new runways, saying Britain is in serious danger of running out of aviation capacity where it is needed. The document estimates that by 2040 regional airports would be carrying 210m passengers rather than 185 million by the 5 London airports. Airline passenger numbers in the UK would more than double from 210m in 2010 to 470m by 2050.
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Birmingham Airport chief warns of Coventry rival’s impact
Date added: 25 August, 2011
Paul Kehoe has warned that plans to fly to growth economies like India and China
could be hindered by proposals to resume passenger flights at Coventry Airport. With progress being made on the £65 million runway extension, the possibility
of flights to China, India and the west coast of America will become reality in
2014 – but Mr Kehoe said competing with Coventry at the short-haul end of the
market could put that under threat by hitting profitability.
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No new runways before 2050 but more action needed to stabilise aviation emissions, says Government
Date added: 25 August, 2011
The Aviation Environment Federation has given its initial reaction to the DfT
reports. The AEF says even with no new runways in the UK the forecasts suggest
that emissions from UK aviation will grow from 37.5 million tonnes of CO2 in 2005
to around 49 MtCO2 by 2050. To keep emissions at or below their 2005 level additional
steps would be needed and the range of policy levers considered by the DfTfor
tackling aviation’s predicted emissions growth is very limited.
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DfT response to the CCC report on reducing aviation emissions to 2050 published
Date added: 25 August, 2011
The DfT has produced its response to the Committee on Climate Change report,
on how UK aviation can fit within UK carbon emissions totals. Also its forecasts
for passengers and for aviation carbon emissions for 2030 and for 2050. There
are many provisos, and a lot of detail, but the DfT is not saying aviation should
not grow, and has not made a commitment that UK aviation CO2 emissions should
be at 2005 levels by 2050.
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Government admits ‘without further action’ flagship aviation climate target will be missed
Date added: 25 August, 2011
In the Transport Secretary’s formal response to the aviation recommendations
of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the government’s independent climate
advisers, there is an admission that on current levels of airport capacity, and
without any additional expansion, the last government’s flagship aviation target
(of ensuring that aviation emissions return to 2005 levels by 2050) cannot be
met – even based on the most optimistic assumptions.
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Newcastle Airport bosses in Big Apple link talks
Date added: 23 August, 2011
Airport bosses will fly out to the USA next month for fresh talks on the possibility
of securing a direct service to New York. They believe they can get a scheduled transatlantic service from Newcastle after the success of
Emirates’ daily service to Dubai. Talks with an unnamed American airline are scheduled. The chief executive remains
optimistic despite the recent decision by Continental Airlines to axe its service
from Bristol to New York.
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North east says links from London to Aberdeen are vital
Date added: 23 August, 2011
A north-east transport group will urge the DfT to reconsider its “one size fits
all” approach when evaluating how accessible London is from other parts of the
country. Nestrans has completed a draft response to a consultation on the future of the
UK’s aviation industry, and has suggested Aberdeen will suffer economically if
better links with London are not established and maintained. High speed rail to
Edinburgh will not help Aberdeen.
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Two miles of 9 foot high fencing missing from Lydd Airport planning application: Public inquiry likely to be delayed
Date added: 22 August, 2011
LAAG has discovered following investigations made with the DfT and the CAA that
under UK law - the National Aviation Security Programme - Lydd Airport will be
required to security fence the perimeter of the airport with 9 ft high barbed
wire topped, chain link fencing, which must be buried in concrete. Airport management should have included the plans for the fencing in their application.
Under planning law the impact needs to be scientifically assessed.
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Passenger numbers drop by 8.9% at East Midlands Airport over the past year April to April
Date added: 22 August, 2011
Passenger figures and profits dropped at East Midlands Airport in the past year
as the recession hit travellers, the airport's annual report says. The airport
had 400,000 fewer passengers from April 2010 to April 2011 with 4.1 million people
flying from the regional hub. They partly blame the ash cloud. The airport saw
profits drop by £2.6m to £7.1m in the 2010-11 period. There was an increase of
1.1% in passengers this Easter compared to Easter 2010.
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Lydd: Activists prepare for battle to save countryside from the developers
Date added: 22 August, 2011
Down in the marshlands of Kent, battle lines are being drawn. In Lydd, people
are angry at proposals to build more homes on the edge of town at a time when
younger inhabitants are moving away. They are angry at plans to develop a series
of quarries that will have conveyor belts running all night. And they are angry
about the airport, whose expansion plans will dramatically alter the haunting
atmosphere of the marshlands, designated an AONB.
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George Monbiot on the need for a stable, growthless economy which avoids both financial and ecological collapse
Date added: 22 August, 2011
George Monbiot argues that now is the time to start planning for a new economy,
not dependent on growth. He says much of the wealth we have depended on and accept as normal is illusory. To sustain the illusion, we have inflicted very great damage on the planet’s
living systems. Economic growth and environmental damage are not being decoupled.
There are important lessons from Professor Tim Jackson’s book "Prosperity Without
Growth".
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We’ll go it alone, says Coventry Airport boss, as refused Enterprise Zone status
Date added: 20 August, 2011
The government has blocked a bid to turn land around Coventry Airport into an
Enterprise Zone - but the airport's owner insists the project will still go ahead. It aims to create 14,000 jobs in the city and see a huge area of land around
Baginton used predominantly for highly-skilled manufacturing jobs. However, losing the government-backed initiative means Coventry will not have
the advantage of tax breaks, planning relaxation, and superfast broadband.
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Richmond Council stands firm on opposition to Heathrow night flights
Date added: 20 August, 2011
The council will call for the Government to ban all night flights at Heathrow
in its official response to a consultation. Richmond Council’s special standing committee on Heathrow said no planes should take off or land
at the airport between 11pm and 7am. It will also ask for the authority to be represented when Heathrow monitors 2 trial
periods in which it will use both runways simultaneously, instead of its current
practice of one at a time.
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Manston ‘may close’ if night flight bids rejected
Date added: 19 August, 2011
Manston could shut down if it is not allowed to operate more night flights, according
to chief executive, Charles Buchanan. He said commercial airlines would only use
the site if they could fly early in the morning or late at night. Tory councillors
said Thanet needed the jobs but Labour members said the airport was holding people
to ransom. Opponents are not impressed by the airport trying to frighten its opponents, and the Council,
into submission.
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Flybe load factors increase and passengers up slightly
Date added: 18 August, 2011
Flybe's results for the 3 months to June 30th show its revenues were up 8.3%
on the same time in 2010. Passenger numbers were up 7.7% to 1.98 million. Its
revenue per seat - a key financial indicator - had risen by 4.9% to £48.09. Underlying
seats flown fell by 1.7% year-on-year as the airline took out capacity. But its
load factor (the % of seats filled) was 63.1% compared with 62.7% in the same
period last year. It has 27% of the UK regional air market.
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Boeing 787 Dreamliner Completes Flight Testing for Type Certification
Date added: 18 August, 2011
Boeing claims the 787-9 Dreamliner will bring "unprecedented levels of fuel economy, maintenance cost improvements, and environmental
sensitivity to the marketplace through the use of new technologies including composites,
more-electric systems, advanced aerodynamics and the latest advancements in propulsion."
They look forward to making their first delivery to ANA (All Nipon Airways) in
Japan in September.
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Independent Leading article: If the future lies in train travel, it needs to be affordable
Date added: 18 August, 2011
In the wake of the train fare increases Theresa Villiers, made what has become
the Government's stock response: investment in the rail network is desperately
needed, and deficit reduction is the overwhelming priority. Therefore the burden
of paying for train services must be shifted away from the taxpayer and on to
passengers. Fare rises of up to 13% are way above inflation. The greener alternative to
driving or flying should not be unaffordable.
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Funding secured for Brazilian research study into the sustainability of renewable jet fuel sourced from sugarcane
Date added: 17 August, 2011
The IDB will finance for "renewable" jet fuel projects in Latin America and the
Caribbean and along with aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Embraer the IDB will
fund a sustainability analysis of producing jet fuel from Brazilian sugarcane. The study will evaluate environmental and market conditions for and will be independently
reviewed and advised by the WWF. It will include indirect land-use effects. Sugar-derived
jet biofuels were not included in the recent ASTM certification process
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Obama announces major investment towards developing aviation advanced biofuels sector in the US
Date added: 17 August, 2011
Obama has announced an investment of $510 million over the next 3 years to develop an
industry to develop and produce drop-in advanced aviation and marine biofuels
for the US defence and commercial sectors. Funding will come from the US Depts of Agriculture, Energy and Navy and will be equalled by finance from
the private sector. Without mentioning environmental concerns, the USDA said the partnership aims
to increase energy independence & create jobs.
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Kent hopes its airports are selected for extra flights during Olympics
Date added: 14 August, 2011
Three of Kent’s airports (one with only grass runways !) hope they will become
vital transport hubs during the Olympics after being earmarked by Government for
additional use during the Games. Manston, Lydd and Rochester airports will be designated as “temporarily co-ordinated”
for use with additional flights.. Manston hopes for a major increase in traffic during the peak period of the Olympics, as does Lydd
claiming quick transport to Stratford.
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Aircraft Emissions Standards Hard To Craft
Date added: 13 August, 2011
Efforts to establish the first CO2 certification standard for aircraft are proving
difficult, and the failure to agree on a metric for CO2 emissions risks delaying
completion of the standard. Any delay will empower environmental groups already
putting pressure on governments to regulate aircraft CO2 emissions in the absence
of a global standard. Last month the ICAO working group tasked with developing
the standard could not agree, and it will take till 2015.
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July 2011 traffic figures for BAA’s airports – passengers up + 0.8% and +2.5% at Heathrow
Date added: 13 August, 2011
Heathrow handled a record 6.9 m passengers (up + 2.5% on last year) in July with
load factor of 84.7%, the -the best ever achieved. The total number of passengers at Heathrow during the last 12 months exceeded
68.5 m for the first time. BAA’s 6 airports handled + 0.8% more passengers than in July 2010. Stansted down
- 7.2%. Passengers to North America were up +5.6%, other long-haul up + 3.9% and
domestic flights down -7.2%.
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Proposed changes to Heathrow noise management benefit only a few
Date added: 13 August, 2011
AEF has responded to a BAA consultation on noise at Heathrow. While it refers
specifically to Heathrow, it raises issues of wider relevance. The proposals see,
to make some improvements when compared with the existing scheme, some get a better deal
than others. The number of households offered any help is still only a small proportion of those affected. BAA consultation only proposes help to people exposed to more than 63dB which is too high.
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Heathrow named Olympics host airport and may build temporary terminal for it
Date added: 13 August, 2011
Heathrow is considering building a temporary terminal - deconstructed afterwards
- to cope with the additional volumes of passengers and bags during the Olympics.
Perhaps about 80% of all Olympics passengers will travel through the airport. BAA expects August 13, the day after the Olympics closing ceremony, to be its busiest
day next year. On that day, the airport will need to handle some 218,000 bags, 58,000 more than
the day before.
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UK shipping industry rejects EU’s carbon reduction programme
Date added: 10 August, 2011
The UK Chamber of Shipping has just starting looking at emissions-reduction initiatives
for the industry, despite years of talks. The UK's shipping industry has roundly
rejected the EU ETS, defying calls for shipping to be included in the CO2 reduction
programme. Its Director General said the ETS will not work for shipping, as it
is not a global system and shipping is, and ships would simply refuel instead
at non-EU ports. Aviation joins the ETS in Jan 2012.
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Globally June the 7th hottest and May the 10th hottest on record
Date added: 10 August, 2011
NOAA figures show that globally the combined land and ocean temperature in June
was the 7th warmest on record, and in May it was the 10th warmest. There are no
El Nino or La Nina conditions at present. La Niña ended during May 2011. The
first half of 2011 (January–June) was the 11th warmest on record for the combined
global land and ocean surface temperature.
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Biggin Hill airport’s 2012 Olympics expansion plans rejected
Date added: 10 August, 2011
A request to extend the opening hours of Biggin Hill airport for the London Olympics
has been rejected. Airport owner Bromley Council said it had sufficient capacity for the demand
for flights (from 07.30 to 21.00 BST) during the 2012 Games. Biggin Hill Airport Limited wanted to run a number of day-return services. A public consultation on the request received 1,741 responses, of which 1,046
were against the increased operating hours.
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Swindon’s Head of Planning says Councils should have the power to act over noisy aircraft.
Date added: 10 August, 2011
The head of the planning committee says it is time the council get control over planes flying through the town’s airspace. At the moment, much of the decision-making dealing with the aircraft is not the
responsibility of the council, but the CAA. This means that once aircraft leave the runway, councils are all but powerless
to act. But in the wake of the furore over the Redlands Airfield he says now its time
for change. Some are distressed by the noise.
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Liverpool John Lennon Airport director Andy Gower leaves company
Date added: 9 August, 2011
Airport director, Andy Gower, has left his role with the company, and Peel Airports
said they hope to have a new director by September. The Chief Executive said "Andy has left us, it was time for him to move on. It was purely his decision and we leave on amicable terms." Mr Gower was unavailable for comment on the reasons for his departure from the
Speke base. The news comes amid a background of pay disputes and possible strike action.
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Emirates eyes EU carbon tax (EU ETS) of $1 billion over 10 years
Date added: 9 August, 2011
Emirates, Dubai's flagship carrier, said the EU ETS may cost it as much as $1
billion over 10 years, as it joined other airlines in objecting to the tax. Airlines
around the world have warned of a looming trade war due to the scheme, but the
EU says it will not back down. The carriers say their emissions should only be
tackled by ICAO. Last week the Arab Air Carriers Organization asked Europe not
to include the aviation sector in the ETS scheme.
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Report shows Manchester Airport is the ‘wrong place’ for an enterprise zone
Date added: 9 August, 2011
A new report from CPRE shows the Manchester Airport enterprise zone will undermine
attempts at economic regeneration in other parts of the city. The research hits
out at the Government’s decision to locate Greater Manchester’s enterprise zone
(one of the first 4 "vanguard" enterprise zones announced in March) at Manchester
Airport, saying the site is the "wrong" place for a zone. Areas other than the
airport have more need for investment.
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Airlines face action on tax refunds
Date added: 9 August, 2011
Some airlines are "ripping off" travellers over refunds for APD. A number of
carriers have withheld "tens of millions of pounds from their customers" in refunded
APD when passengers have booked tickets but not flown, the Air Travel Advisory
Bureau (ATAB) said. They have now joined forces with London law firm Barket Gillette
LLP to fight on passengers' behalf. Most airlines make it hard to recover the
money.
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BMI blames Mid East unrest and rising fuel bills for £105m losses
Date added: 9 August, 2011
Uprisings in the Middle East and Egypt and rising fuel prices have been blamed
for £105 million losses at Castle Donington-based airline BMI. BMI, which employs 527 people at Donington Hall, predicts a "return to profitability"
in the medium term. BMI said it could not answer questions on whether the losses, made in the 1st half of this year, could
affect jobs or flights from East Midlands Airport. The £105 million losses were 29% worse than those in 2010.
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New Rolls-Royce engine test plant may go abroad, leaving Derby, company admits
Date added: 8 August, 2011
Rolls-Royce is in a new row over manufacturing jobs leaving the UK after saying
a new facility for new aircraft engine test-beds is likely to be based in Germany
or the US instead of Derby, its biggest site. This comes a month after Bombardier announced the loss of 1,400 jobs after the
government chose Germany's Siemens for a £1.4bn carriage contract. Unite said
this has potentially long-term implications for Derby's manufacturing base.
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Southend: SAEN agrees with Council – money was wasted because Council ignored opposition to runway extension
Date added: 8 August, 2011
SAEN has learned that Southend Borough Council is publishing their legal costs in defending their decision to permit the runway extension. SAEN has also had
to spend tens of thousands of pounds on the legal action and agree with them that
it is a waste of money. Had the Council taken any notice of the consultations on both the Joint Area
Action Plan for the airport and the planning application for this damaging scheme,
they could have avoided the cost.
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BAA Heathrow faces huge freight bill for athletes’ luggage going by courier jets
Date added: 6 August, 2011
Heathrow plans to send Olympic athletes' luggage by courier jets to avoid a meltdown
in its baggage handling systems after the Games. BAA will "probably" have to foot the bill for Olympians' luggage and are in talks
with private freight firms. The cost is likely to reach ££s millions. DHL quotes
£2000 to send one single scull boat from the UK to Athens. Experts fear travel disruption at London's airports and the Eurostar terminal
at the end of the Games.
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European Commission extends probe into state aid at regional airports
Date added: 6 August, 2011
The EC is upping the number of investigations into possible improper state aid
at regional airports in the 27 member states, and has confirmed it launched in-depth
investigations at Marseille and Frankfurt Hahn. The EC currently is investigating
aid to Wizz Air at Timisoara airport in Romania, aid to infrastructure at the
Leipzig-Halle airport in Germany and aid to Dortmund airport and the airlines
using it. Some subsidies may be distorting competition.
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Carbon offsets near record low, worst performing commodity
Date added: 6 August, 2011
Carbon offsets have neared all-time lows. A worsening global economic outlook has dented prices for emissions permits which
depend on a robust economy belching greenhouse gases into the air. Carbon offsets have fared uniquely badly because a UN climate panel continues
to print new offsets, regardless of a widening glut in emissions permits in the
main demand market, the European Union's carbon market. The financial crisis has left a global oversupply.
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‘Cheap flights era over’ warns IAG boss Willie Walsh – due to oil price
Date added: 6 August, 2011
Willie Walsh has said consumers must get used to higher ticket prices. Arguing
there had been a "structural shift in the price of oil", he said: "The industry
is going to have to price in $120 oil. As a % of our cost base, it's 32%. For
the low-cost guys it's more like 50%. It is such a big part of an airline's costs
that fares will have to go up." IAG is 50% hedged for the next 12 months at about
$93 per barrel against a current spot price of around $117.
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Blackpool Airport fury over permission for 73 homes that would block its growth
Date added: 5 August, 2011
The airport has slammed Fylde council for failing to properly consider the detrimental
impact a new housing development could have on the region’s economy. In an unusual step Fylde councillors could be asked to reconsider granting approval
for 73 homes on the former Pontins site amid fears it will hamper the airport’s
ability to grow. The airport remains adamant some of the proposed 73 homes will
be affected by an increase in noise levels.
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Birmingham Airport increases profits 8-fold last year, after cost-cutting
Date added: 5 August, 2011
Cost-cutting helped the airport to post an 8-fold increase in profits last year
– but its chief executive warned its long-term health is reliant on the region’s
economy. Birmingham Airport Holdings saw after-tax profits rise from £592,000 last year
to £5.28 million in the 12 months to March 31 despite revenue falling by 0.8%
to £103.3 million. Employee costs were reduced by more than 11%, with number of people working at the airport reduced by 75.
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Ireland backtracks on air tax pledge so the €3 air tax remains
Date added: 5 August, 2011
The Irish government is no longer planning to scrap its €3 air tax. It had been planning to stop charging passengers the levy for flying from Ireland
by October, but the Irish government has not seen enough commitment from airlines to make scrapping
the tax viable. The Irish minister for tourism said any move to cancel the levy was “conditional” on airlines
bringing in more passengers. Ryanair hoped for up to an extra 5m passengers/year.
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Michael O’Leary in Northern Ireland air passenger tax scrapping call
Date added: 4 August, 2011
Michael O'Leary has (yet again) called for air passenger duty in NI to be scrapped. Michael O'Leary, who has clashed with the Republic's transport minister over
air passenger tax there, said it should be abolished across Ireland. Politicians have already called for a cut in the NI rate after Continental Airlines,
which operates between Belfast and New Jersey, said it may have to withdraw because
of the duty.
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Holidays 4 UK: Brighton tour operator collapses – 6th since start of June
Date added: 4 August, 2011
A tour operator with more than 12,000 holidaymakers currently abroad has gone
into administration and would cease operating immediately. Most of its 18 staff
had been made redundant. It also traded as Aegean Flights, and sold packages and flights to Turkey. Travel association ABTA said there were currently 12,800 people abroad with the
company. Six travel companies registered with ABTA have ceased trading since
the start of June.
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Thames airport plan slammed by leader of Medway Council
Date added: 3 August, 2011
Councillor Rodney Chambers said the idea to build an airport on the Isle of Grain
was “the daftest in a long list of pie in the sky schemes that have been put forward”. Norman Fosters’ recently announced proposals are for The Thames Hub, a project
which would bring together rail freight connections between the UK’s main sea
ports, a 150 million passenger airport to replace Heathrow, a tidal energy barrage
and a new flood protection barrier.
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Edinburgh Airport Chief Executive resigns after year in post – replaced by Jim O’Sullivan
Date added: 3 August, 2011
Kevin Brown is starting a new job next month as chief executive officer at North
Queensland Airport Group, which is based in Cairns. BAA said Mr Brown was leaving
a "healthy airport" and that Jim O'Sullivan, who currently works at Heathrow, has been appointed to take
over at the helm of Edinburgh Airport on 1 September. Mr O'Sullivan is currently BAA technical standards and assurance director.
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Lord Foster says giant airport in Kent on the Isle of Grain would improve life… ‘for Londoners’
Date added: 2 August, 2011
Lord Foster says his controversial plan to build the world's biggest airport
on Kent's Hoo Peninsula would "improve the quality of life for Londoners". Local politicians and environment campaigners claim the plan would be a disaster
for Kent and is "pie in the sky". Lord Foster's proposal is to build a giant four-runway airport which could handle
150 million passengers a year, and says his proposals are far from future fantasy, and are essential.
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New Heathrow flight plan is in for bumpy ride – may be more day flights and less night flights
Date added: 1 August, 2011
Plans for more flights during the day have met with mixed reactions from both
residents and Hounslow council. Heathrow currently uses a runway alternation system, whereby one runway is used
for arrivals and the other for departures, reversed during the day to give residents
a break from the noise. New proposals suggest increasing the number of daytime flights by using runways
for both takeoffs and landings when needed, instead of just one way.
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June IATA global data shows slight air cargo drop, down -3% on June 2010
Date added: 1 August, 2011
June air freight volumes couldn’t keep up with last year’s growth, according
to IATA.. Falling 3% year-over-year from June 2010, cargo volumes haven’t improved
since last summer. Compared to May, both passenger and cargo markets contracted by about 1%. Air
cargo continuesat 6% below the post-recession peak. Shippers are looking beyond airfreight to transport goods. European air freight
was down - 1.3% and Asia -Pacific down - 5.8%
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India protests EU’s carbon tax on aviation news
Date added: 1 August, 2011
Much after China raised a hue and cry over the EU ETS, India has now come out
shrieking and complaining. India's minster for environment lodged a formal complaint
with the EU last week over the proposed tax, dubbing it an ''unfair'' trade practice. It is estimated the tax will cost India a tleast $1 billion a year and along
with Chinese and American airlines will help Europe rake in $10 billion a year.
India said it would approach the WTO if it isn't withdrawn.
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SWAFEA final report “lays groundwork for the deployment of sustainable aviation biofuels in Europe”
Date added: 1 August, 2011
The Sustainable Way for Alternative Fuels and Energy for Aviation report, submitted
to the EC, gives details of how they propose European aviation can get up to 2%
of biofuels by 2020. They claim "sustainable" biofuel, in huge amounts, can be
sourced. On aviation industry emissions reduction targets, the study finds that stabilisation
of emissions at 2020 levels - using biofuels - would probably take well beyond
2030.and it sees some of the problems.
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Russia may lose 30% of permafrost by 2050 – releasing immense amounts of methane
Date added: 1 August, 2011
Russia's vast permafrost areas (over 60% of Russia) may shrink by 30% by 2050
due to global warming. "In the next 25 to 30 years, the area of permafrost in Russia may shrink by 10-18
percent," the head of the ministry's disaster monitoring department Andrei Bolov
told the RIA Novosti news agency. This thawing will set off another problem because of the release of huge amounts of methane
currently trapped in the frozen soil.
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The power of consumerism over the demand for air travel
Date added: 29 July, 2011
"... we talk of the tourism industry as being in the business of selling daydreams
within a culture of consumerism, and of tourists fulfilling motivations and fantasies
through participation in tourism.... " and
"....thinking of tourism in the context of contemporary consumer culture is the
best way to understand it; as an extension of the commodification of life. Tourism
can thus be interpreted as a form of consumerism, having similarities to buying
a car or clothes." (Andrew Holden)
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Another cargo aircraft carrying batteries crashes – off South Korea
Date added: 29 July, 2011
Another cargo plane has crashed, killing its two pilots, due to fire in the cargo
hold caused by lithium batteries igniting. The Asiana Airlines’ B747 freighter was off South Korea when it crashed into the
sea. It was claimed the pilot had shouted “cargo fire” and “emergency” about
10 minutes before the aircraft disappeared from radar screens. It was carrying
electronic products, mobile phones, liquid crystal displays, LEDs, lithium batteries
and liquids
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Four jobs to go at Manston Airport which needs to save £350,000
Date added: 28 July, 2011
Four jobs are to go at Manston in a cost-cutting programme. The airport, owned by Infratil, has been losing money on its operations and needed
to cut costs to give it a more secure future. It has identified savings of more than £350,000 that can be made, including the 4
roles. The airport is striving to get airlines to fly from there, and there is
a paper-thin hope of "Flyinvicta" which does not yet even exist, flying to New York.
Talk about grasping at straws.
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Can ‘no frills’ work for longer flights? It is heppening in south east Asia
Date added: 28 July, 2011
While it's common to pay a cheap fare for a short flight to a holiday destination,
the thought of forgoing leg room, hot meals and other "frills" for more than a
few hours may not sound as appealing. Yet some airlines are trying to bring the successful short-haul budget model
to longer flights, with the latest entrant in South East Asia being Singapore
Airlines. Others in the Asia Pacific region are doing the same, with the no-frills
airlines attracting most passengers.
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EasyJet announces its intended routes from Southend from April 2012, if the runway extension is built by then
Date added: 27 July, 2011
EasyJet has announced it plans to have a total of 62 weekly departures from Southend
from April 2012. There will be 7 flights to Alicante, 12 to Amsterdam, 7 flights
to Barcelona, 13 to Belfast International, 7 to Faro, 3 to Ibiza, 8 to Malaga,4
to Palma. And there is one more route yet to be announced, which might be perhaps
Edinburgh, or Glasgow or Paris. Until the runway extension is built, full passenger
planes cannot safely land or take off.
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Redhill Aerodrome submits planning application for hard runway
Date added: 27 July, 2011
Redhill Aerodrome submitted a planning application for the development of a hard runway to replace its 3 grass runways. The application and supporting Environmental Statement proposes the construction of a hard runway of 1199m x 30m, a taxiway link and more. The aerodrome says this would enable more reliable operations of fixed wing aircraft throughout the year and overcome the problems of water logging, which means the runways now have to be closed.
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European airlines seek exemption from EU emission trading scheme
Date added: 27 July, 2011
Around 65 European airlines are asking for the aviation sector to be exempt from
the EU ETS while disputes rumble on about non-EU carriers. The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) has written to the EC seeking
an escape clause from the EU ETS until ongoing decision-making is completed or
until the ICAO has had time to develop a climate protection scheme that could
be applied world-wide.
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Court of Appeal refuses Southend campaigners application for JR on Southend Runway extension
Date added: 27 July, 2011
An appeal by SAEN in the Court of Appeal against the decision to refuse a Judicial
Review of Southend Council's grant of permission for a runway extension has failed.
However, SAEN says it is not the end of the story. Their legal team are exploring other options and there are further decisions to be
made by the Sec of State before the Airport can start building - including a decision
on the stopping up of Eastwoodbury Lane which is not due till September.
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Flybe steps in to save Cornwall route – Newquay to Manchester
Date added: 27 July, 2011
Flybe has stepped in to save the Newquay to Manchester route which is being dropped
by Air Southwest at the end of September. Flybe will start a four-times-a-week service year-round on October 30 with fares
from £29.99 one way including taxes and charges.
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New Draft National Planning Policy Framework – with presumption in favour of “sustainable development”
Date added: 27 July, 2011
The DCLG has released their draft NPPF (out for consultation until 17th Oct).
It has a strong presumption in favour of development, of anything that boosts
economic growth. Developers like it, and many green NGOs do not. It says little
on airports other than to encourage local authorities to develop "transport investment
necessary to support strategies for the growth of ports, airports or other major
generators of travel demand in their areas."
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