Latest News
Latest news stories:
New Biggin Hill Airport Consultation on extending operating hours during the Olympics
Date added: 28 June, 2011
A 2nd consultation is now under way following the new Biggin Hill Airport Limited
request to vary their lease during Olympic Games period. It ends on 29th July.
The earlier application was rejected by Bromley Council in March. The scope of
the request has been reduced somewhat. Bromley FoEsaid it was deeply disappointing that the airport has resubmitted
its application which will cause anxiety among the thousands living under the flightpath.
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Passengers fall at some regional airports by up to 70% since 2007; APD blamed (as usual)
Date added: 27 June, 2011
Passenger numbers at regional airports have fallen by up to 70% in the last 4
years according to the CAA, and operators say APD is having a ‘damaging and disproportionate
impact’ on regional hubs. Over 4 years the APD on short flights has risen 140%, from £5 to £12, and more on longer journeys. They
are saying rises in APD would cause loss of more regional routes and airport closures
- with Bournemouth, Prestwick, Robin Hood and Exeter the worst affected.
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Climate change hots up in 2010, the year of extreme weather
Date added: 27 June, 2011
2010 was the joint-warmest on record and also the wettest over land, with sea
ice levels dropping and drought on the rise, and may have been the most extreme in terms of weather since the explosion of Indonesia's
Mount Tambora in 1816. 2010 was the hottest, wettest, and in many cases also the driest and coldest in recorded
history. 2011 is already on track to be exceptional, with a Texan drought, a very warm
European spring and low Arctic ice.
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Momentum gathering towards aviation biofuels commercialisation as US and European policy-makers signal support
Date added: 27 June, 2011
GreenAir online is enthusiastic about the introduction of aviation biofuels after
the boost they received at the Paris Air Show. Announcements behind the scenes
indicated progress towards a viable alternative jet fuel industry. The US, including
the US Navy, want biofuels for energy security and job creation. Europe wan them
for climate reasons. In Europe a body called "European Advanced Biofuels Flightpath"
has high targets for EU biofuel by 2020, with EIB aid.
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Chief executive of Leeds Bradford Airport in plea to Government to tax others more
Date added: 27 June, 2011
Several regional airports are calling on the Government to reduce the tax on regional airports. They have signed a joint letter urging the government to abandon its ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to aviation taxes, which they believe penalises the regions. Regional airport bosses want to see a charge on the busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, and bemoan the fact regional airports have been hit by recession.
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Dublin Airport chief’s bonus grounded – he is already paid €308,500 pa plus benefits
Date added: 27 June, 2011
Dublin Airport Authority chief Declan Collier has been forced to give up his
controversial €106,100 bonus amid Government pressure. Transport Minister Leo Varadkar welcomed the u-turn, claiming the semi-state
sector would have to transform to survive. The chief executive's total remuneration last year was €612,500, which included a salary of €308,500 and pension and other benefits of €182,100.
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Lydd Airport terminal refurbishment is “latest stage of multi-million-pound development programme”
Date added: 26 June, 2011
Lydd now has improved passenger check-in, security facilities, arrivals and baggage
reclaim areas and a new departure lounge to accommodate up to 100 passengers an
hour. Also state-of-the-art CCTV and electronic access control systems and more improvements
planned. Over £30 million has now been spent on improving facilities at the airport, even
though a public inquiry into the planning application is ongoing, with a public
meeting on 5th July.
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EU emissions reduction vote postponed – giving Cameron time to win round climate sceptic MEPs
Date added: 25 June, 2011
A key vote in the European parliament on whether to toughen climate change targets has been postponed, giving David Cameron a breathing space in which to head off a planned rebellion by his MEPs. The vote – on whether to raise the EU's emissions reduction target from 20% to 30% by 2020 – was slated to take place on Thursday, but will now be delayed until 4 July. Many MEPs do not agree with the 30% target. (Guardian)
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Anna.aero analysis of the Spanish air travel in May – up + 6.4% over May 2010
Date added: 24 June, 2011
Spain’s economy is very dependent on in-bound tourism. Passenger numbers in
May across all Spanish airports were up 6.4% to 17.9 million, after being up almost
5% in the first quarter of 2011. Anna.aero says the drop of -1.1% to Germany
must be due to their passenger tax, which is all of €8 per passenger. UK-Spanish
services were up 13% in May, and we have APD of £12 per flight, so doesn't look
as if the tax has much effect.
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Easyjet introduces business travel sales team of 4 to increase current 18% of flights
Date added: 24 June, 2011
Easyjet has recruited 4 new people to launch its business travel sales team to attract more corporate clients. Some 18% of Easyjet’s passengers are flying on business, and they want to increase
this. They want "cost conscious companies who want to gain more savings,” and savings would be
coming from Easyjet’s already low fares not from discounted tickets. Buyers may
be able to negotiate “added values”, such as fast-track security at airports.(ABTN)
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KLM to launch commercial flights in September Amsterdam – Paris on biofuel (? used cooking oil ?)
Date added: 23 June, 2011
KLM says it will fly more than 200 flights between Amsterdam and Paris on biokerosene
made from used cooking oil. It does not say what percent of the fuel the used
oil will be. KLM then says it will use other fuels too, as long as they meet their
sustainability criteria and include substantial CO2 reductions. In practice there
is nowhere near enough used cooking oil available, most of which is already used
as biodiesel for land vehicles, and other uses.
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THE TIMES – Leader: “A New Airport for London” – supports a massive Estuary airport
Date added: 23 June, 2011
The Times, a long time backer of a third runway at Heathrow and of increased
UK aviation, writes in a leader that the UK must increase its infrastructure,
and this would involve building a new airport in the Thames estuary - perhaps
close to Whitstable. Boris Johnson expects an immense (unrealistic?) increase
in the number of air passengers over the next 30 years. The Times says "It is
time for David Cameron to take a fresh look at the Thames Estuary."
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IATA reports global drop in demand for premium air travel in April
Date added: 23 June, 2011
International air travel in first and business class has slumped because of Japan's
nuclear crisis, weakening world trade and problems in the Middle East, airline
body IATA has said. It produces a monthly analysis of worldwide airline first
and business passengers. In April the premium travel market was -1.3% on the
start of the year and was growing at only half the 5 - 6% annual rate it hit in
the second half of 2010
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Airbus and AirAsia announce record deal for 200 planes
Date added: 23 June, 2011
Airbus piled up the orders at the Paris air show as it announced the largest
single order of commercial aircraft in history. Malaysia's low-cost carrier AirAsia is buying 200 of the A320neo jets, in a deal
worth about $18bn (£11bn). That eclipsed a deal on Wednesday, when India's IndiGo confirmed an order for
180 planes from Airbus. The new versions of the A320 are in demand as their new engines make them more
fuel-efficient and cheaper to run. (BBC)
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Evening Standard comment: “Ministers must heed this airports warning”
Date added: 22 June, 2011
The Standard says that after yesterday's comments by Willie Walsh that BA is
no longer hoping for a new third Heathrow runway, "We need to consider all the
options. What we cannot do is simply ignore the issue. As an international trading
centre, London is reliant on its air links - and through them, large parts of
the rest of the UK economy too." And "Ministers could also revisit plans to expand Stansted or, eventually, Gatwick. There may be potential elsewhere, too".
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Boris Johnson: build new London airport to avoid ‘historic’ mistake
Date added: 22 June, 2011
Boris says the government must push for a new London airport to avoid making
a “historic mistake” that will cause serious damage to the UK economy. He claims Britain is missing out on investment and sacrificing jobs to its European rivals, and
the only solution is to create a new aviation hub to serve the capital. He says the
economy will be damaged without more aviation capacity, so London can remain one of the world's great cities. He said the UK could have another 85m passengers a year and still be within CO2
limits.
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BA gives up on new runway at Heathrow
Date added: 22 June, 2011
BA chief executive Willie Walsh has said that a 3rd runway at Heathrow “will
never be built.” He told a Times CEO Summit yesterday that “It’s dead” and that
British Airways were looking for expansion at Madrid Airport after their recent
link-up with Iberian Airways. BA had been the loudest and most powerful advocate
for an extra runway. The BA chief’s remarks came as Mr Johnson detailed his vision
for a new airport that could be sited in the Thames Estuary. John Stewart, Chair of HACAN said, “It now looks as if finally the third runway
has been killed off.... BAA should now sell off the houses they have bought in Sipson to allow life in
the villages to get back to normal.”
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New York route from Belfast Internal is ‘loss making’ due to APD – as cheaper from Ireland
Date added: 22 June, 2011
Continental Airlines said it may be forced to withdraw its Belfast International to
New York route due to the level of air travel tax. In Belfast APD adds £60 on every flight to New York. However on its flights
from Dublin the tax is €3. So the Belfast route is making a loss. They are ..."right next door to a different tax regime where we can offer lower prices." "The route is estimated to be worth around £20m a year to the Northern Ireland
economy." (BBC)
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Claims at Paris Air Show of hypersonic plane flying 20 miles up, on biofuel, by 2050
Date added: 21 June, 2011
The Zehst plane, not scheduled for commercial use until 2050, will be run on a seaweed-based
fuel rather than kerosene. This is all likely to be pie in the sky. EADS, the team behind the new plane - which claims it could fly up to 100 passengers
at more than 4 times the speed of sound - has decided to use a mixture of biofuel,
hydrogen and water. It would reach Australia from England in about three hours, flying just outside earth's
atmosphere 20 miles up.
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Friends of the Earth Europe report on aviation biofuels – Flying in the Face of the Facts
Date added: 21 June, 2011
European airlines fuelling aeroplanes with biofuels is greenwashing, and flies
in the face of recommendations from major international institutions, FoE Europe
have said on the opening of the Paris air show. The European aviation industry, with support from the European Commission, is
expected to announce plans to use 2 million tonnes of bio-kerosene per year by
2020. This is diverting political attention from the real need to cut air travel in order to
reduce climate change.
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Not again! World’s biggest airliner loses wingtip after striking building at Paris Air Show – two months after doing the same thing in New York
Date added: 21 June, 2011
An A380 superjumbo was grounded at JFK airport two months ago after hitting a
private jet, which was spun round 90 degrees by the impact of the A380's wing
tip with its tail. Now the plane is grounded again at the Paris Air Show, after
damaging its wing tip on a building it was taxiing past, so it is grounded. The
Airbus A400M military transport plane also had to cancel a demonstration flight
because of a "minor gearbox problem".
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Business chiefs drop bid to win Gatwick Diamond Enterprise Zone status
Date added: 21 June, 2011
Business chiefs have called off a bid to win special Enterprise Zone status for
the Gatwick Diamond area. The Coast to Capital Board Local Enterprise Partnership
(LEP), had indicated the Gatwick Diamond as one of its favoured areas for Enterprise
Zone status. But of the four areas being looked at, the board announced its intention
to submit the Bognor Regis Enterprise Zone proposal to central government by the
end of the month.
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Boeing predicts 33,500 new passenger planes and freighters over the next 20 years
Date added: 20 June, 2011
Air cargo demand will grow more than 5% annually over the next 20 years, Boeing
claims. It has increased its forecast for the global aircraft market over the
next 20 years by 8%, and now expects demand for 33,500 passenger planes and freighters.
It predicts a US$4 trillion market between 2011 and 2030. Boeing predicts a 4.2%
increase in airline passengers, a 5.1% increase in airline traffic and a 5.6%
average rise in cargo traffic every year.
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UPS air cargo security not up to scratch, says DfT, including freight on passenger planes
Date added: 20 June, 2011
The DfT has banned UPS from scanning cargo at certain unspecified facilities
because the company has not met security requirements. The DfT said “The safety
of the travelling public is paramount and our security regime is kept under constant
review. “Following careful consideration, the department has restricted the number
of sites in the UK at which UPS is permitted to screen air cargo until it has
satisfied current security requirements."
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Boeing will fly 747-8 freighter aircraft on 15% camelina biofuel from USA to Paris Air Show
Date added: 19 June, 2011
Boeing will fly a new 747-8 freighter from America to the Paris Air Show, (4,335
nautical miles) on 15% biofuel in each of the plane's 4 engines. Boeing notes
that the fuel is a camelina biomix that was grown in Montana and processed by
Honeywell’s UOP. The airplane will be on static display at the Paris Air Show June 21 and 22 and
then leave the air show the evening of June 22 and fly to Cargolux headquarters
at Luxembourg for a two-day visit.
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Honeywell demo flight in Gulfstream G450 using one engine using 50% biofuel from camelina crosses Atlantic
Date added: 19 June, 2011
Honeywell has for the first time flown a business jet - Gulfstream G450 - across
the Atlantic with one engine using a blend of of its "Green Jet Fuel" 50:50 oil
from camelina and and traditional petroleum-based fuel and landed safely at Le
Bourget Airport, Paris. The company said it was the first major test flight of such fuel by a business
jet. According to Honeywell the seven-hour flight saved "approximately 5.5 metric
tons of net CO2 emissions.
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Bonn climate talks end with no agreement on key areas
Date added: 18 June, 2011
Two weeks of global climate talks in Bonn have ended nowhere near agreement in the 3 key areas of finance, greenhouse
gas emission cuts and the future of the Kyoto protocol. The economic crisis in Europe and elsewhere was making it harder. NGOs said they
were deeply frustrated at the snail pace of negotiations. The Bolivian ambassador
said "The developed countries are not moving. The problem we face is that we are
on a path to [warming of] 4-5C. That is the reality. That worries us very much.
The problem is the lack of ambition,"
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Energy firms fear “tremendous decline” in CO2 price as large firms now hold huge cache of carbon permits
Date added: 18 June, 2011
The EU's carbon market could be flooded with excess pollution permits over the
next decade, deflating prices and undermining investment in green energy, five
EU energy companies have warned. The utilities said falling carbon prices could: "severely hamper business incentives
to invest in low-carbon technologies." Ten steel and cement companies have amassed
240m carbon permits from generous allocations. Aviation will join the EU ETS in Jan 2012.
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Operators of Scotland’s largest airports want aviation taxes to be devolved to Holyrood
Date added: 17 June, 2011
The owners of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Prestwick airports said control
from Scotland would allow the government to cut tax and help the tourism industry. APD is currently set by Westminster. The Calman Commission, which considered reforms of home rule for Scotland, recommended
that APD should be devolved. They believe the Scottish government is best placed
to determine the balance between APD and the economic benefits of aviation growth
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Group of 10 regional airports want a congestion tax on flights from Heathrow and Gatwick
Date added: 17 June, 2011
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Proposed new easyJet flights from Southend show just how few new jobs low cost airlines produce
Date added: 16 June, 2011
The news that Easyjet will be operating 70 flights per week from Southend Airport
within the next year is a bitter blow that will fill residents with dread. But
this announcement undermines the entire case for expansion at Southend Airport. EasyJet has confirmed that the 800,000 passengers it intends to carry will result
in the creation of JUST 150 new jobs. LSA previously claimed that 2 million passengers
would result in the creation of 1,130 jobs. (SAEN)
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EasyJet to start flying from Southend airport
Date added: 16 June, 2011
It hopes to begin operating from Southend airport and will carry around 800,000 passengers
in the first 12 months from its new base. It hopes to start flights at Southend from April 2012, where a multimillion pound terminal
will open this autumn. Under a 10-year partnership with Stobart Group, easyJet will operate 70 flights
a week to a number of European destinations including Barcelona, Ibiza and Faro. Around 150 easyJet staff will work at the airport.
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Row sparks over call for £600k Manston airport ‘sweetener’ from taxpayer
Date added: 16 June, 2011
The government has been urged to offer a £600,000 "sweetener" to an unnamed commercial
airline planning a new daily service from Manston to an unnamed European destination
from next April, it has emerged though an FoI request. The airport operator Infratil
is in advanced confidential talks with an unidentified airline. Now it has been
revealed Kent County Council and Infratil pressed for a taxpayers’ handout to
underwrite the costs of the service for 3 years.
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UK airport passenger figures for April and May
Date added: 15 June, 2011
April and May figures
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FedEx is the world’s busiest cargo airline carrying 15,743 million tonnes in 2010
Date added: 15 June, 2011
FedEx, based in Memphis, is the world's busiest cargo airline - but Asian carriers
top the poll when it comes to international volumes. FedEx handled more than
50% more cargo than its closest rival, UPS Airlines - 15,743 million tonnes compared
to 10,194 tonnes. Slightly more than half its volume was international, and the
rest domestic. In 3rd place went to Hong-Kong headquartered Cathay Pacific, and the busiest European cargo airline was Lufthansa.
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Business leaders warn of cost rise for air passengers so fewer will head off on cheap flights abroad
Date added: 15 June, 2011
THE cost of flying short haul from the north east could soar if Government proposals
are implemented, business claims. Newcastle Airport said coalition plans to switch from a 4-tier banding of aviation
tax to 2 or 3-tier would have no benefit for North East passengers. This is in
response to the APD consultation ends on Friday. Newcastle Airport is reliant
on the budget airline holiday flights for its financial security - though this
takes money out of the UK economy.
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May 2011 traffic figures – BAA’s airports – passengers up by 9.2% on May 2010
Date added: 14 June, 2011
BAA’s 6 airports handled 9.3 million passengers in May, the busiest ever May
for Heathrow (5.9 million) and Edinburgh (826,000). The two airports also saw
their busiest ever March, April and May. This was partly due to the royal wedding,
and volcanic problems and strikes in May 2010. For the first time ever, the 12 month total number of passengers at Heathrow
topped 68 million. Stripping out the negative effects of events in 2010, the group
recorded underlying growth of 1.7% in the year to date
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Plans for Enterprise Zone around Coventry Airport
Date added: 14 June, 2011
Business leaders are proposing to make a planned development near Coventry Airport and the Tollbar A45 junction an enterprise zone for the area. The Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership has until the end of June to table its nomination for
a zone to the Government. Enterprise zones will seek to boost development and economic growth through tax
breaks, reduced planning restrictions and other inward investment advantages.
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Abolition of Irish passenger tax “conditional” upon airlines bringing in more passengers
Date added: 14 June, 2011
Campaigning by airlines and the tourist industry prompted the Irish government's
decision to drop its air passenger tax. The current €3 tax will be dropped between July and October this year. “We decided that it wasn’t a good idea to tax people to come in and out of an
island,” said Irish Tourism Minister. However, the move is conditional on airlines bringing in more passengers, with
a quid pro quo, and airlines increasing routes cut in the recession.
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ClientEarth briefing says biofuels should not have a zero emissions factor in the EU ETS
Date added: 14 June, 2011
A new legal briefing from ClientEarth entitled "Bringing the ETS in line with reality: Making biomass emissions count through
the Monitoring and Reporting Regulation" argues that the current application of a zero-emission factor to emissions from
biomass used in sectors covered by the ETS does not accurately reflect actual
emissions from biomass and is contrary to the principle underlying the ETS that
each operator should be responsible for his own emissions.
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High Speed 2 rail link: secret northern routes revealed
Date added: 13 June, 2011
The proposed Y-shaped route will see trains speeding through countryside in Staffordshire,
Cheshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire - with one branch
skirting Cannock Chase, officially designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty. The western branch will pass from Birmingham through Tatton, and Sutton Coldfield,
to Manchester. The eastern branch will go from Birmingham to Leeds and may have two interchange
stations.
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Manchester Airport calls for lower flight taxes for regions
Date added: 13 June, 2011
Manchester Airport has launched a new campaign to persuade the government to
introduce lower air taxes for flights from regional airports than from London. It is urging passengers to write to the Chancellor George Osborne asking for
a regionalised taxation system. This is in response to the government consultation
on APD which ends this Friday. The airport is giving customers pre-written postcards asking for a lower level of APD for airports
like Manchester.
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Airport plan ‘threatens to destroy wildlife’ on remote Atlantic island, St Helena
Date added: 13 June, 2011
St Helena, a tiny volcanic island in the South Atlantic, and one of the most remote inhabited places – looks set to change for ever with the
construction of an airport and a 300-acre luxury hotel, villa and golf course
complex. The scheme is dividing islanders and causing alarm among wildlife and
heritage conservationists. British taxpayers are set to spend up to £300m on a new airport, to be sited
in one of the island's most sensitive ecological zones.
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Transport Secretary Philip Hammond makes speech at Aviation Club Lunch
Date added: 12 June, 2011
Contains statements like: "the challenge for my Department, in particular, is
to demonstrate that 'supporting economic growth' and 'reducing carbon' are not
mutually incompatible aims." and "this Government is not and at least, so long
as I am Transport Secretary, will not be, 'anti-aviation'." and "So we clearly
understand that, if our economy is to grow, aviation must also be able to grow.
" and " ....desire ... to see the aviation sector prosper.... while delivering
our environmental goals".
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Manston: Yet another job forecast – from the once-secret KCC funding bid
Date added: 12 June, 2011
The local group, No Night Flights at Manston, have found out, through FoI, that Kent
County Council has been trying to get Regional Growth Fund money. KCC wanted a
handout of some £10.8 million to support their ill-judged proposal for a Parkway
station at Manston, and some free money for the airport. Manston are says that with 23 extra staff they could handle twice the current
tonnage of freight, and 750,000 passengers a year (cf. 21,000 passengers in 2010)
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EU aviation policy lacks vision, say regional airlines group ERA
Date added: 11 June, 2011
The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) has said aviation in Europe is
facing an unclear future under current plans. The EC published a white paper, a roadmap for the future of transport, in March. This outlined a blueprint to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2050, and has been criticized by the ERA. Under the plans, 40% of aviation fuel will need to be from sustainable low carbon
sources, and the Single European Sky scheme must be fully functional.
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Birmingham Airport “saved from night flight ban” as interim measure by Solihull Council
Date added: 11 June, 2011
The airport has been given the go-ahead - as an interim measure - by Solihull
Council to base the number of night time flights allowed in 2011 on the busiest
year during the past 5 years, rather than on recession-hit 2010. The airport
is claiming a boom in business in the Midlands means there is a need to (for some
unknown reason) to bring in more parts during the night. The airports is otherwise
likely to reach its annual quota of night flights well before the end of the year.
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Biofuels From Algae, Wood Chips are approved for use by passenger airlines (USA)
Date added: 10 June, 2011
Airlines won the backing of a US- based technical-standards group (ASTM International)
to power their planes with a blend of traditional fuel and biofuel from inedible
plants etc. Fuel processed from organic waste or non-food materials, such as algae or wood
chips, may comprise as much as 50% of the total fuel burned to power passenger
flights. The real winners will be technology companies in biofuel production. Final approval
will be around July.
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Runway cleared for aviation biofuels surge in 2012
Date added: 10 June, 2011
ASTM has given preliminary approval to the blending of biofuels produced from algal, jatropha,
municipal waste and other cellulosic feedstocks in aviation fuels. Final approval
is expected around July 1st, of the new BIO SPK fuel standard, which will limit
such fuels to 50% by weight. Following final approval of the standard, Lufthansa and Airbus are expected to
begin a 6-month commercial trial of a 50% biofuel blend, on 4 flights/ day between
Frankfurt and London.
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Aviation Minister, Theresa Villiers, to consider launching Heathrow noise study
Date added: 10 June, 2011
Heathrow's impact on the health of neighbouring residents could be the subject
of a government study. Theresa Villiers promised to consider launching a full assessment when she met
leading politicians from Hounslow, who are trying to improve life for people living under the flightpath. They are demanded better noise insulation for schools and a total ban on night flights. Also
improved public transport links to the airport and the retention of runway alternation.
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Cairn wins injunction against Greenpeace over Arctic oil drilling protest
Date added: 10 June, 2011
A Dutch court granted Cairn an injunction against Greenpeace, that for every day Greenpeace disrupts Cairn’s oil drilling operations it will
incur a penalty of €50,000, up to a maximum of €1m. This year Cairn is spending $600m to explore prospects with an estimated 3.2bn
barrels of oil equivalent. Police have arrested 20 Greenpeace activists for their actions. Greenpeace believes
that an oil spill would wreck the Arctic’s pristine environment and be impossible to effectively
clean up.
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Global air freight: Fuel price a dampener on airline bottom lines this year, but 5.5% growth expected
Date added: 10 June, 2011
Air cargo handlers believe the increasing fuel price will make airlines' cargo
business unprofitable this year. A majority of those polled by IFW believe 2011
will be a difficult year for air cargo. For each dollar increase in the average
oil price, airlines face an additional $1.6 billion in costs. IATA expects the
average oil price for 2011 to be $110 per barrel. IATA expects global air freight
to grow b y 5.5% this year, down from an earlier forecast of 6.1%.
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Swans moved on from City Airport amid bird-strike safety fears
Date added: 9 June, 2011
Bosses at London City Airport have been dealing with a serious threat to aircraft
— wild swans. The number of birds congregating close to the Silvertown airport has increased
to “unmanageable levels” in recent months. "Bird strikes” are the most common cause of aircraft accidents. The City Airport
swans have been transferred to a new home at Windsor. The airport wants residents
to avoid feeding wild birds, as it encourages them to settle.
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IAG’s Willie Walsh confirms interest in bidding for bmi
Date added: 8 June, 2011
Walsh has confirmed he would look at buying bmi if current owner Lufthansa is
willing to sell. Speaking at the IATA summit in Singapore, Willie Walsh said:
"I have said we are interested". Bmi's attraction lies in the valuable slots it holds at Heathrow, which it has
retained even while criticising Heathrow's performance and the high charges imposed by BAA. Mr Walsh added that IAG was keen to form a joint venture with the Japanese airline,
JAL.
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Jos Dings (T&E) letter in FT: “Airbus shows an industry refusing to see future”
Date added: 8 June, 2011
In the latest round of industry scaremongering over the inclusion of aviation
in the EU ETS, Airbus and the AEA accuse the EU of creating a “unilateral tax
imposed on 3rd-country carriers”. That description of a unilateral tax imposed on 3rd-country carriers perfectly
fits the US international transportation tax (currently $16.30 a passenger) which
applies to all international flights arriving in or departing from the US. This
tax has been charged for over 10 years, and has caused no trade conflict.
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Airlines lose economy passengers as soaring fuel bills force up ticket prices
Date added: 8 June, 2011
IATA says economy class passengers are balking at higher fares due to rising fuel costs
and aviation taxes. Leisure travel fell 3.5% worldwide between last November and March this year,
with Europe suffering the most as recession-hit passengers declined to accept
higher ticket prices. Business class traffic is growing at up to 6% per year.
Carriers have increased fares as jet fuel has risen by more than 50% over the
past year. Ryanair will raise fares 12% this year.
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Birmingham Airport to “talk to its neighbours” about its plans to increase night flights
Date added: 8 June, 2011
The airport is inviting members of the local community to discuss all airport-related
activity, particularly its night flying policy at several community meetings. The airport is trying to get more night flights (23.30 - 06.00), above the number
it had previously agreed to. It wants dispensation to increase numbers over 5%
of the total, as flights were down last year, so it feels the restriction is too
tight. Also meeting a tighter noise level of 85 db (a) would be too hard for
them.
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Heathrow Greenwash: BAA marks World Environment Day with its Sustainability Performance Plan for 2010
Date added: 7 June, 2011
BAA has marked Environment Day (5th June) by producing its Sustainability Performance
Summary for 2010. It contains all sorts of good things like improving the passenger
experience, reducing contruction accidents, and investing £7.5 million in local
community projects. They say they reduced the airport's total carbon footprint
by almost 150,000 tonnes CO2e compared to 2008. That is just a bit less than 0.5%
of total emissions by planes using Heathrow. Not a lot !
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The Aberdeen Climate 9: An appeal to better judgement
Date added: 7 June, 2011
Defendants Tilly Gifford and Dan Glass from the Climate 9 had their appeal heard
at Edinburgh Appeal Court against the conviction they received for blocking the
taxi way at Aberdeen Airport in March 2009. Dan and Tilly made the decision to
appeal against the conviction as they believe the action they took was justified,
proportionate and necessary in the face of catastrophic climate change. During
the 4 hour hearing this morning the court heard a strong case from the defence,
and the decision will be taken within 6 weeks.
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Monbiot on and the dottiness of putting a value on everything, including every hour spent travelling
Date added: 7 June, 2011
As part of an article on the madness of putting a financial price on nature,
Monbiot tells how the DfT announced that it had discovered “the real value of
time”. He says cost-benefit analysis is systematically rigged in favour of business.
For example the decision-making process for transport infrastructure, in which
government developed an appraisal method which almost guaranteed that new roads,
railways and runways would be built, regardless of the damage they might do or
the paltry benefits they might deliver
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Profit forecast for global airline industry slashed from $18 billion in 2010 to $4 billion
in 2011 (IATA)
Date added: 6 June, 2011
IATA has slashed its profit forecast for the global airline industry due to oil
prices, political unrest and natural disasters. It expected the industry to make
a profit of US$4 billion in 2011, which is a dramatic 54% lower than the $8.6
billion forecast it made in March. It is also 78% lower than the $18 billion profit
the industry recorded in 2010. This equates to a profit margin of 0.7%. IATA expects
average oil price to be $110 per barrel (Brent) up from its previous forecast
of $96. It expects a global passenger increase of 4.4% in 2011.
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Aberdeen Climate9 appeal at the Edinburgh Appeal Court June 7th 2011
Date added: 6 June, 2011
Defendants Tilly Gifford and Dan Glass are appealing the Climate9 conviction
of Breach of Peace at Edinburgh Appeal court on June 7th with results to follow. The Climate9 trial lasted for 2 weeks in Aberdeen and was the first jury-led
climate change trial in Scotland. The appellants were convicted in August 2010
for their role in the climate change protest at Aberdeen airport on March 3rd 2009, when they occupied the taxiway, briefly shutting the airport down.
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“IATA WARNS EU OVER ‘ILLEGAL’ CARBON PLAN” threatening Chinese retaliation over EU ETS
Date added: 6 June, 2011
Global airlines warned the EU of the risks of a possible trade dispute over allegedly 'illegal'
plans to charge the industry for emissions, saying they echoed environmental failures
of the past. IATA's comments stepped up a war of words as Connie Hedegaard refused
to back down over EU plans to make airlines buy permits for carbon emissions above
a certain level. China may threaten retaliation against European airlines and
Airbus if the EU ETS plan goes ahead.
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Tax hotels not flights, suggests Ryanair boss, wanting yet more aviation tax concessions
Date added: 4 June, 2011
In a particularly mad outburst, O'Leary is suggesting taxing all UK hotel rooms
- on which there is VAT - £1 more (which guests would not notice) and keeping
flights cheaper, removing APD. This, as with all the other anti-APD hype, conveniently
ignores the fact that aviation pays no VAT and no fuel taxes. So yet more cries
of unfair treatment by airlines should be taken with a huge pinch of salt. Aviation
remains undertaxed, even with APD and with ETS next year.
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Greenpeace activists stop oil drilling by Cairn for 2nd time this week – and ask for their Arctic oil spill plan
Date added: 4 June, 2011
Just before being arrested Greenpeace oil campaigner Ben Ayliffe radioed the
nearby Greenpeace ship Esperanza from the oil rig he and 17 activists had boarded.
Greenpeace have repeatedly asked Cairn to be allowed to see their plan for dealing
with an oil spill in the Arctic. Greenpeace say such a plan should be in the public
domain, as there are very serious concerns about the environmental and other effects
of a large spill, in deep and very cold Arctic waters.
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Climate change in tropics poses food threat to poor
Date added: 4 June, 2011
Why does climate change matter, and why bother to cut emissions (including those
from flying)? Research shows that parts of the tropics are already experiencing
hotter weather, and this can reduce the length of the growing season. That affects
what can be grown, and yields - with even a 5% cut being critical. Already higher
mean temperature is reducing yields for maize and wheat in Brazil and China.
World population is due to grow to 10 billion by 2100.
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Frightening figures from UN on global population – 10 billion by 2100 in an optimistic scenario
Date added: 3 June, 2011
The current world population of close to 7 billion is projected to reach 10.1
billion by 2100, reaching 9.3 billion by 2050, according to the medium variant of the 2010 Revision of World Population Prospects, the official UN population projections. Much of this increase is projected
to come from the high-fertility countries, which comprise 39 countries in Africa, 9
in Asia, 6 in Oceania and 4 in Latin America. Global population gets to 8 billion
around 2025.
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IATA figures for global international passengers show increase in April
Date added: 3 June, 2011
IATA says international passenger air traffic grew by 16.5% in April, compared
to April 2010. This is exaggerated due to the April 2010 ash cloud effect. IATA
says it nevertheless reveals a solid recovery from the recession. International
traffic is now 7% above the early 2008 pre-recession levels. But there are demand
shocks and high jet fuel prices. IATA is now including domestic passengers as
well as international in their figures.
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US military using 119 million barrels oil per year, now want 50% biofuel by 2020
Date added: 3 June, 2011
The US military apparently uses close to 2% of US energy and in 2008, the US Department of Defense used about
119 million barrels of oil. The DoD now wants to get 50% of supplies from renewable
sources by 2020 - probably more for energy security reasons than climate. “We
want to be able to pull into different ports around the globe and be able to refuel
on biofuels.” In other words, the Navy does not want to protect a long supply
line as it has to with oil.
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BMI baby moves base to save money and help keep cost of flights low
Date added: 3 June, 2011
BMI Baby has moved into the base of its parent company, BMI Group, in order to cut costs.
It has moved 80 staff who were based since 2002 at Pegasus Business Park, next to East Midlands Airport, to Donington Hall. It has announced plans to focus its operations on the Midlands. It is pulling out of Cardiff and Manchester airports only leaving Birmingham, Belfast
City and East Midlands. It will add 2 planes at East Midlands, making the total
number there 8.
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UK scientists launch scathing criticism of EU biofuel targets (road traffic)
Date added: 2 June, 2011
Claims that biofuels have lower greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels are
'complete nonsense' and EU-wide targets to increase their use should be scrapped
says a letter from 19 prominent UK scientists to Philip Hammond. A global 'land grab' and increased loss of forests and other natural ecosystems
is being driven by European targets for more biofuels - with a target for 10%
of total transport fuel to be derived from renewable sources by 2020.
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Greenpeace Arctic oil “pod” protest against Cairn Energy drilling ended by Danish navy
Date added: 2 June, 2011
Two remarkably brave Greenpeace activists, Luke Jones and Hannah McHardy, managed
to hang in a survival pod off the Cairn drilling platform for 4 days. They have
now been removed and arrested by the Navy. They are likely to be deported. Cairn
has rented the rig in order to drill for Arctic oil during the brief window of
summer weather. Arctic oil drilling presents huge risks. They have now threatened
Greenpeace with a €2 million fine per day of disruption.
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Eye consultant barred from flying after refusing body scan on health grounds
Date added: 2 June, 2011
An eye specialist at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary declined to go through the
full-body scanner on both medical and ethical grounds. He was then not allowed to board his flight to Zurich. He was not prepared to take the risk
of going through the scanner as it was potentially dangerous to his health, the
danger of X-rays is well known, as mutations can be caused. The X-rays used at Manchester airport could produce 20 times as much radiation as
first thought.
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How the travel industry loads costs onto holiday makers at peak periods
Date added: 1 June, 2011
The airline industry continually complains of the injustice of passengers paying
£12 in APD on a short haul flight to Europe. There is incessant whingeing about
how this terrible charge will reduce the number of flights, put unfair stress
on the "hard pressed, hard working British family". But it is worth remembering
how the travel industry already unfairly over-charges its customers as much as
it can, whenever it can. This is one example.
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Energy: the new thirty years’ war
Date added: 1 June, 2011
The world consumed 13.2bn tons of oil-equivalent from all sources in 2010: 33.6%
from oil, 29.6% from coal, 23.8% from natural gas, 6.5% from hydroelectricity,
5.2% from nuclear energy, and a mere 1.3% from all renewable forms of energy.
Together, fossil fuels supplied 10.4bn tons, or 87% of the total. Even attempting
to preserve this level of energy output in 30 years' time, using the same proportion
of fuels, would be a near-hopeless feat
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Monarch to compete with Ryanair and easyJet as it steers away from package holidays
Date added: 1 June, 2011
Monarch will compete directly with easyJet and Ryanair, as well as BA in the
scheduled market. By next summer, it expects 80% of its business to be scheduled, compared with
20% five years ago. It will continue to offer package holidays, but only as a
small part of its business. It is scrapping debit card booking fees and will charge a flat fee of £10 per booking on credit
cards (Ryanair charge £12 for both). There will be the option of booking in-flight
meals in advance.
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Connie Hedegaard says it is “Time to get serious about aviation emissions!” and back ETS
Date added: 1 June, 2011
Connie, EU Commissioner for Climate Action, argues that aviation is rightly to
be included in the EU ETS, and it is quite fair and legal for all flights by all
airlines flying into, or out of, the EU to be included. In 2004 ICAO endorsed
the idea of emissions trading, and it agreed it was the most effective economic
instrument for tackling aviation emissions, compared to or charges. EU legislation
on ETS is fully consistent with international law, and is not in conflict with
the Chicago Convention.
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Worst ever carbon emissions leave climate on the brink
Date added: 31 May, 2011
Greenhouse gas emissions increased by a record amount last year, to the highest
carbon output in history, putting hopes of holding global warming to safe levels
all but out of reach, according to unpublished estimates from the International
Energy Agency. This means it is unlikely we can prevent a temperature rise of
2 degrees C - the threshold for potentially "dangerous climate change". And this from Fatih Birol,
chief economist of the IEA. Last year, a record 30.6 gigatonnes of CO2 were produced, up 1.6Gt on 2009, according
to the IEA. This trajectory would mean around a 50% chance of a rise in global
average temperature of more than 4C by 2100.
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Is the European market for cheap flights close to saturation?
Date added: 31 May, 2011
Ryanair has grounded up to 80 aircraft this winter - 5% of its total - which
is its first ever cut in capacity. Ryanair is Europe’s biggest short-haul airline
by passenger numbers. One reason is that the European market is close to saturation.
Ryanair has typically expanded by 15-20% a year, as has easyJet. They now both
need to get more higher paying passengers, such as business travellers, get in
more from ancillary services, and go to more convenient airports.
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EU energy plan threatens carbon billions when carbon price falls
Date added: 31 May, 2011
The Europe Union's carbon market could be flooded with excess pollution permits
over the next decade, cutting prices in half and depriving governments of billions
in budgeted revenues. One leaked study foresees carbon prices falling to 14 euros per tonne, compared
to a business-as-usual price of 25 euros. Another sees the price dropping to zero.
The problem was initially foreseen by the Commission's climate team, under climate
commissioner Connie Hedegaard
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