Latest News
Latest news stories:
European airports could fly 28 million more without expanding, says study
Date added: 31 May, 2011
Europe's busiest airports could carry 28 million more passengers every year without
further expansion or extra runways, according to a report. The study, ordered by the EC, said more efficient use of takeoff and landing
slots and changes in their allocation, could absorb some congestion. Demand already exceeded capacity most or all of the day at six European airports
– including Heathrow and Gatwick. There are currently 26,000 flights using Europe's airspace every day, with estimated
growth of 5% a year.
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Manston Airport claims it could ” boost region by €75m”
Date added: 27 May, 2011
Manston Airport has had a report done by York Aviation. It manages to come up
with figures to suggest Manston could contribute €75 million each year to the
local economy if only it could operate without a flight curfew. It claims this
would "provide direct employment for 2,070 people as well as a further 1,035 jobs in
the wider economy by 2018" (manifestly over-optimistic). The master plan has projections
for passengers are freight that are just bizarre.
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Icelandic volcano: ash flight rules to be overhauled
Date added: 26 May, 2011
A radical overhaul of the guidelines was being agreed by Philip Hammond. Existing safety rules outlaw flying underneath the cloud, but the planned changes
will mean that planes will be allowed to amend their flight paths - which could
entail climbing more gently and only reaching their cruising altitude once they
are clear of the ash. This would make it possible to keep a significant number of services operating.
The Met Office and the CAA will pool information.
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World Economic Forum report identifies biofuels as the ‘game changer’ to achieve aviation emission targets
Date added: 25 May, 2011
An aviation sustainability report from the World Economic Forum finds that achieving
the industry’s target of halving its carbon emissions by 2050 will be a significant
challenge given an 85% CO2 reduction gap. One of the four means by which they
see aviation CO2 falling is by biofuels. They envisage no less than 13.6 million
gallons of sustainable biofuel to be needed each day for aviation by 2050, which
is 4.9 billion barrels per year (more than 6 times current global biofuel production).
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Belfast City residents surprised at further runway inquiry delay
Date added: 24 May, 2011
Local residents have expressed their surprise at a last-minute move by the City
airport which will further delay the long-awaited public inquiry on the airport’s
controversial proposed runway extension. The Planning Appeals Commission has to put the inquiry on hold because the airport says it wants to submit further
relevant environmental information which the D of E must first give the public
a chance to comment on. The Inquiry may not be till 2012.
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Minister announces consultation on Heathrow Night Flights in spring 2012
Date added: 24 May, 2011
Aviation Minister Theresa Villiers has just announced that the Government will
issue a detailed consultation on the current night flight regime at Heathrow,
Stansted and Gatwick “next spring.” Speaking in as an adjournment debate in Parliament,
initiated by Brentford and Isleworth MP Mary Macleod, Villiers said the night
flight decision would be “one of the most importance issues I will face as a Minister.” The current night flight regime comes to an end in October 2012.
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MIT analysis emphasises the large variability in greenhouse gas emissions from jet biofuel production
Date added: 24 May, 2011
When a biofuel’s origins are factored in, eg. if it is made from palm oil grown
in a clear-cut rainfores, biofuels can be worse than fossil fuels. You can’t simply
say a biofuel is good or bad – it depends on how it’s produced and processed,
and that’s part of the debate that hasn’t been had. MIT researchers did life-cycle analyses of 14 fuel sources, and found emissions varied widely depending
on the land use change needed to grow biofuel. Some biofuels are even worse than
coal-to-liquid fuels.
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Icelandic volcano ash could enter UK airspace, forecasters warn
Date added: 22 May, 2011
Ash from an erupting Icelandic volcano that has already grounded planes locally
could enter UK airspace by Tuesday. The Grimsvotn volcano began erupting on Sunday, causing flights to be cancelled
at Keflavik airport after it sent a plume of ash etc 12 miles into the air. However experts said the eruption was unlikely to have the dramatic impact that the Eyjafjallajökull volcano had in April 2010, when flights were cancelled over the UK for 6 days.
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Manston is still a “hole in the ground” losing money
Date added: 19 May, 2011
Infratil, the New Zealand-based investment company that owns Manston Airport,
has just published its end of year results. The "European airports" (Prestwick and Manston) continued to disappoint investors. Losses increased from NZ$8.6m in 2010 to NZ$11.3m in 2011, and the book value
of the two airports was reduced by NZ$35m - The assets are turning to dust in
their hands. It is likely that Manston is losing money faster than Prestwick.
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Manchester Airport interested in buying Stansted and a Scottish hub
Date added: 19 May, 2011
MAG has confirmed its interest in buying Stansted and possibly Glasgow or Edinburgh.
It would seek to bring in more long-haul airlines and cut Stansted’s dependence
on low-cost airlines in general and Ryanair in particular - which it sees as risky. The timetable for the sell-off is still unclear. MAG currently owns Manchester,
East Midlands, Bournemouth and Humberside airports. For debt-laden BAA, the prospect
of securing a good price may appear dim.
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Eurojet to create 50 jobs with £5m Birmingham Airport expansion
Date added: 19 May, 2011
Eurojet Aviation has announced expansion plans with a new 41,000 sq ft complex at the airport. It will feature a full-service fixed base operator (FBO) which means it has hangars
on site and can look after airplanes and private operators. The maintenance facility is set for completion by the end of the year. It claims
there will be 50 new jobs. Kehoe is pleased about the establishment of an aircraft
maintenance cluster in the West Midlands.
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EC should make tax fairer by extending VAT to air travel
Date added: 18 May, 2011
The Aviation Environment Federation, and Transport & Environment have submitted
comments on the EC consultation on changes to VAT. Aviation pays no VAT and both
organisations argue there is no reason why the industry should remain exempt. A major strand running through the consultation is the desirability of charging
VAT on the widest possible range of goods and services. The current system distorts
the economy and creates an artificial demand for air travel.
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Southend: A fresh bid to halt the runway, by a man from Cumbria
Date added: 18 May, 2011
Southend Airport is facing yet another challenge to its runway extension plans
– through the European courts. Former aviation consultant Peter Elliott wants to overturn Southend Council’s
decision to allow the runway extension, made in January last year and approved
last April. Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal refused to allow Mr Elliot to even apply
for a judicial review. But now he will file applications with the European Court of Justice and the European Court of
Human Rights.
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APD changes will increase emissions and increase the number of long haul flights, says easyjet
Date added: 18 May, 2011
EasyJet claims changes to APD will increase annual CO2 emissions. A report compiled by Frontier Economics and commissioned by easyJet, says the
changes will reduce UK passenger numbers by 3 million per year ; increase CO2 emissions by
up to 360,000 tonnes per year; reduce tourist spending in the UK by £475m a year; reduce UK GDP by £2.6 billion
per year; lead to the loss of up to 77,000 jobs; and encourage more long haul flights.
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Chris Huhne pledges to halve UK carbon emissions by 2025 – with a few provisos
Date added: 18 May, 2011
Chris Huhne gave a statement to Parliament on 17th to say that the 4th "carbon
budget" – a 50% emissions cut averaged across the years 2023 to 2027, compared
with 1990 levels – would be enshrined in law. This will put the UK on target
for 60% cuts by 2030.This is the most ambitious target of any country. However,
Huhne has not ruled out use of carbon offsets from abroad. And there will be a
review of the 4th budget in 2014, as a compromise, so targets could be cut if
European countries fail to meet their targets. Cameron was reported to have stepped in to resolve the fraught battle within the cabinet with a decision to support the targets. The cuts exclude the embodied energy
in Britain's imports, and our international aviation and shipping.
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Amid greenwashing claims, US environmental groups tell their major airlines to drop opposition to EU ETS
Date added: 17 May, 2011
Six major US groups have sharply criticised 3 leading US airlines over lobbying
and legal efforts to prevent their inclusion in ETS from next year while simultaneously
bragging about their environmental performance. They have written to the CEOs
to denounce the airlines for bringing the suit at the European Court of Justice,
and say new technological advance to cut CO2 is needed, not litigation. Adverts
from the green groups, for the in flight magazines, have just rejected.
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Birmingham airport aspiration to be a major air transport hub
Date added: 17 May, 2011
Birmingham airport is being promoted as the solution to capacity constraints
as the government seeks to rebuff criticism that it lacks a coherent aviation
policy. There is pressure to build more airport capacity in the south although
there is enough already. Philip Hammond was present at the opening of the latest
phase of the £100m redevelopment of the airport, and said Birmingham would become
an even more important part of the UK national airport infrastructure.
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Cameron intervenes to settle row over emissions targets
Date added: 16 May, 2011
David Cameron has moved to resolve a Cabinet row over the UK's climate change
targets, with an agreement on emissions to be announced on Tuesday. This will see drastic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to 2027 and an overhaul
of the way energy is produced. But ministers worried about the impact on the economy and burdens on industry
have secured a get-out clause. The targets will be reviewed if European nations backslide on their own climate
commitments.
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Lydd Airport Inquiry resumes: Dungeness as a Fukushima in the making?
Date added: 16 May, 2011
At Lydd Airport’s public inquiry on May 18th, LAAG begins its nuclear safety
case with Chartered Consulting Engineer, John Large demonstrating that it is inherently
unsafe for a regional airport to be developed beside a nuclear power station complex. John
believes the reactor would most likely withstand the aircraft crash, but subsidiary
equipment failures caused by the crash could lead to a very significant radiological
release, mirroring the situation at Fukushima.
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Guernsey Airport runway rebuild needs more land through compulsory purchase
Date added: 14 May, 2011
The States of Guernsey has been asked to approve the compulsory purchase of two
pieces of land from two landowners to allow the airport runway redevelopment to
go ahead. If approved the land would be used for approach lights. The runway work involves maintenance and improvements to taxiways, the apron,
lighting, drainage, extension of the runway end safety areas and the move of the
current runway by about 120m to the west.
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Socio-economic class of UK passengers has not changed over time
Date added: 13 May, 2011
Work by Jeremy Birch, from Stop Bristol Airport Expansion campaign, shows clearly
that the fraction of passengers in each socio-economic group has stayed almost
constant since 1996, and there certainly has not been an increase in the fraction
of poorer people flying. As the total number flying has increased, this means
that the poorer people do fly more than before, but with no progressive element.
Jeremy's study used CAA data from 1996 onwards.
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$70 billion investment required to meet aviation biofuel ambitions, although industry denies setting target
Date added: 13 May, 2011
Up to $70 billion would be needed for the industry to use 6% biofuel by 2020.
If it was from jatropha it would be for 2,000 farms of 10,000 hectares each, or
for camelina, for 8,500 farms - as well as 67 bio-refining plants. There is
not enough money coming from the major biofuel players, so they want some government
assistance. Even meeting the 6% target will be hard, let alone a vague aspiration
by Europe of 40% by 2050. There is no agreed target.
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Idling airplanes produce more harmful pollution than previously thought
Date added: 12 May, 2011
Researchers have shown that the emissions produced by aircraft idling on the
ground contain tiny oil droplets, that when exposed to sunlight, undergo a chemical
reaction that causes them to solidify into tiny particles that can infiltrate
the lungs and eventually the brain of those living or working near airports. Little
has been done to reduce the amounts spewed into the environment, or study the
effect of temperature or interactions of pollutants with UV radiation or other
substances.
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Campaigners step up Dunsfold Park fight due to threat of unrestricted flights
Date added: 11 May, 2011
A warning ‘wake-up’ call has been issued to all Waverley residents to act now
to stop Dunsfold Airport. Dunsfold Park currently has a cap of 5,000 annual ATMs but it has submitted an
application for a lawful development certificate (LDC) for unrestricted aviation.
Owners hope to reactivate the underlying aviation consent to make it commercially viable. FoE have produced
a good briefing on what needs to be done. Dunsfold have got top planning lawyers,
who won at Farnborough, to make their case.
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EMA wind turbines to produce a tiny amount of the airport’s electricity
Date added: 11 May, 2011
Another in a line of airport greenwash. East Midlands has unveiled two wind
turbines which will now generate all of 5% of the airport's electricity demand.
Naturally, in relation to the carbon emissions that the planes using the airport
produce, it is less than a drop in the ocean. However, every tiny bit helps ....
sort of. The turbines have been passed by the CAA for safety. EMA has also (amazing
innit?) a biomass boiler and a willow farm.
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Have your say on new Heathrow airport consultation on noise mitigation
Date added: 10 May, 2011
On 9th May BAA launched a consultation on Heathrow's noise mitigation scheme.
Hounslow Council is asking its community to mobilise to seek major improvements
to the company’s proposals. It appears that BAA’s proposals leave not just affected
residents with a noise mitigation scheme that is seriously inferior to those which
apply around many comparable airports in the UK and the rest of the world. This
is part of BAA's Noise Action Plan.
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Prestwick. Coming to the end of the runway?
Date added: 10 May, 2011
From a peak in 2007 when more than 2.4 million people passed through arrivals
and departures at the Ayrshire airport, now New Zealand owner Infratil confirmed
that the average over the past year has been little more than 1.5 million. Prestwick
has not made a profit in its two most recent financial years and it doesn’t expect
to turn one this year either. This despite the fact that it has made almost 200
staff redundant – nearly two-fifths of the total – in that period.
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Lord Adair Turner, Government’s climate adviser, steps in to carbon budget row with government
Date added: 10 May, 2011
Lord Adair Turner, the chairman of the CCC, has met cabinet ministers in a bid
to heal a government split threatening to reject ambitious targets to cut CO2
emissions. The cabinet is divided on whether to back the advice of the CCC and
commit to a 4th carbon budget. In 2008, 3 consecutive carbon budgets were set,
up to 2023, but a decision has to be made for the next period. Vince Cable and
others like Philip Hammond believe the proposed target will harm prospects for
jobs and growth.
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Chinese airlines step up anti-ETS campaign
Date added: 9 May, 2011
China’s airlines are stepping up their campaign to be excluded from the EU ETS
and threatening to ask their government to impose huge costs on European carriers. The China ATA has released a statement saying the forced inclusion of Chinese
airlines from 1.1.2012 is a violation of international law and hampers the development
of the aviation industry in poor countries. It demands postponement, adjustment
of the rules or exclusion of Chinese airlines.
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Nuclear power stations: Another safety exemption for aviation?
Date added: 7 May, 2011
Europe’s nuclear power plants would not have to prove their ability to withstand
the force of an aircraft crash under stress tests being drafted by regulators.
The FT has reported that the possibility of a plane collision was the most glaring omission among scenarios
laid out in a proposal for the stress tests, the centrepiece of the EU's plan
to ensure the safety of its 143 nuclear plants after Fukushima. Natural disasters
have to be taken account of.
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British Airways to launch first 2012 Olympic ads to promote its £40m sponsorship
Date added: 6 May, 2011
BA is to launch its first ads to promote its £40m sponsorship of the London 2012
Olympics with one of the airline's biggest campaigns, which will run for more
than a year – but not on TV. BA signed a £40m deal in 2008 to become a tier one sponsor and official airline
of London 2012. Its first 2012 Olympics campaign, which breaks on Thursday, will run in two distinct
parts and use national print media and online advertising. There will be virals and a lot more.
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European Commission signs Memorandum of Cooperation with ICAO
Date added: 5 May, 2011
European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas and the Hungarian State Secretary
for Infrastructure Pál Völner, have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation providing a framework for enhanced cooperation and
stronger EU involvement with ICAO. Kallas said both ICAO and Europe will benefit. It will allow EU to contribute to the preparatory work for policy and standard setting
in ICAO in safety, security, environment and air traffic management
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ICAO workshops to help States prepare action plans to reduce international aviation emissions
Date added: 5 May, 2011
The first of 5 three-day regional workshops to assist ICAO Member States in producing
national action plans for reducing international aviation CO2 emissions has ended
in Mexico. It was for representatives from North, Central and South America and the Caribbean States
nominated by their respective governments, and other stakeholders. This results
from the October ICAO Assembly that States 2% increase in global fuel efficiency up
to 2050.
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Heathrow Airport villages ‘dying due to buy-up scheme’
Date added: 5 May, 2011
Villages around Heathrow are "dying" because of a home buy-up scheme run by the
airport operator BAA, according to local MP, John McDonnell. BAA stepped in to
buy 266 "unsellable" houses when planning for a 3rd runway 8 more going through).
John said despite the plans being scrapped many of these homes were standing empty
leading to the "death of village life". Others are let to short term tenants. There
is still a constant fear of runway plans returning.
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China sets new aviation energy intensity reduction target as its officials prepare for talks in Brussels over EU ETS
Date added: 5 May, 2011
China’s Civil Aviation Authority has issued guidance to airlines urging them
to speed up energy efficiency and emissions reduction measures on domestic and
international operations, to cut carbon intensity by 22% by the end of 2020 from
2005 levels. It says Chinese airlines should focus on new technologies such as
alternative fuels, and better air traffic control effiiciency. They will shortly
meeting the EU for talks on the inclusion of China’s airlines into the ETS.
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Iberia and AENA invest in algae biofuel project in Madrid
Date added: 4 May, 2011
Iberia has teamed up with Spanish airports operator AENA and AlgaEnergy to establish
a microalgae-based biofuel research project at Madrid Airport. The facility, in which an initial €600,000 has been invested, will be located
near the airport's Terminal 4 and will start next month. The research plant will capture CO2 from Iberia's aircraft engine bench test
facility, which would otherwise have been emitted into the atmosphere, to make
biofuel.
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(IATA) Global air travel shrinks in March – events in Japan and MENA impact air transport
Date added: 4 May, 2011
Compared to February, global passenger demand fell by - 0.3% in March. Year-on-year
growth in passenger demand slowed to 3.8% from the 5.8% recorded in February.
The Japanese earthquake caused about a 1% drop in passengers, and events in the
Middle East and North Africa caused a fall of about 0.9%. Europe’s carriers saw demand + 5.3% above March 2010, and compared to February levels, Europe’s
carriers added 0.5% to capacity but experienced zero demand growth..
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Ryanair cuts send passenger numbers down 11% at Prestwick
Date added: 4 May, 2011
Prestwick Airport suffered an 11% annual fall in passenger numbers after Ryanair
slashed capacity last year. This was announced by Infratil, which blamed it on Ryanair’s reduction of UK
domestic and Irish routes and services. Ryanair cut its services from Prestwick to both Stansted and Belfast City airports, and
it also withdrew a number of routes completely, including those to Charleroi,
Torp in Norway, Gothenburg, Shannon, Milan and Budapest.
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Kate and William choose to staycation in England rather than jet off expensively abroad
Date added: 3 May, 2011
Although there has been a great deal of speculation about the destination for
the royal couple’s honeymoon – the current top favourite is the UK’s Scilly Isles.
The Daily Mail reported that Palace officials don’t want the newlyweds jet-setting
on a pricey foreign holiday while other Brits are still having trouble paying
the rent. They are aware that in these difficult times being seen to take a luxury
honeymoon would send out entirely the wrong signal.
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FT says hard-pressed airlines are moving to cut capacity
Date added: 3 May, 2011
Jet fuel prices are more than $3.30 a gallon – 45% more than a year ago. More weak sets of results from airlines are expected soon in Europe as the region’s 6
largest airline groups report their financial performances amid Middle East unrest
that has raised oil prices. Demand has been strong enough for airlines to raise
fares repeatedly this year, especially for the all-important business-class. But
to be profitable airlines have to reduce capacity.
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New law enables Met Police to recover London City Airport security cost
Date added: 3 May, 2011
New legislation could mean the Met Police can recoup some of the cost of securing the
airport. Changes instituted on April 1 mean the onus is now on UK airports to fund policing,
which at London City is estimated to cost around £5.5 million. London City would
not comment on how much of the bill it will pick up, citing confidentiality over
security. Opponents have long argued it is unfair for the taxpayer to pay for
policing a privately-owned airport.
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Passengers face tougher checks in the wake of Bin Laden’s death
Date added: 3 May, 2011
Millions of Britons face tougher security checks and longer queues amid fears
of reprisals by terrorists seeking to avenge the death of Osama bin Laden. Full-body
‘nude’ scanners could now be rolled out across the UK by ministers, according
to Whitehall insiders. Restrictions on passengers carrying liquids on aircraft
which were due to expire on April 29 will be extended. Pilots’ leaders warned
that airports are a ‘sexy target’ for terrorists. (Mail)
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Controversial planning document could pave way for Belfast City Airport runway extension
Date added: 3 May, 2011
Local residents have expressed their alarm at a draft planning policy document
which could pave the way for George Best Belfast City Airport to be permitted
its long-sought runway extension. It states that the economic implications of a proposed development can, where significant,
be the determining factor in approving a planning application - which would shift
the goal posts in favour of the airport. If so, environmental concerns would be
brushed aside.
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The clout of Air Alliances – Star Alliance, Oneworld and SkyTeam
Date added: 3 May, 2011
Global airline alliances used to be little more than marketing agreements among
carriers, and travelers had only a dim awareness of them. But over the past decade, 3 alliances — Star Alliance, Oneworld and SkyTeam —
have carved up the globe into 3 teams of at least a dozen airlines each. These
alliances offer passengers easier access to the world, but their growing power
also positions them to dominate unaffiliated rivals and to control prices.
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Freight customers shift to train travel
Date added: 1 May, 2011
High fuel prices for trucks, growing road congestion and increasing environmental
concerns are gradually pushing some of the UK’s highest-profile freight customers
to shift traffic on to trains. It has been encouraged by the completion of two projects to allow the latest,
larger shipping containers to travel more easily by train. By contrast, each year
some 86,000 tonnes of freight are transported within the UK (2010) - and this
is a very fuel-inefficient means of transport.
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BAA shrugs off Middle East disruption with higher revenues as customers spend more
Date added: 28 April, 2011
BAA says revenue at Heathrow and Stansted rose +5.6% to £482m in the 1st quarter of the year. This was driven by increasing passenger numbers at Heathrow, with European and long-haul business travellers driving the airport. But passenger numbers slid -6.6% at Stansted, a reflection of the cautious consumer confidence in the UK. Overall, passenger numbers rose +0.6% to 18.7m, with Heathrow up +2.5% to 15m. Heathrow had higher retail spending up 7.3%.
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Plymouth City Airport to close in December
Date added: 28 April, 2011
Plymouth City Airport is to close in December. Its owner, Sutton Harbour Group, blamed the economic downturn and "challenges for the UK
regional aviation market". It said the airport, which employs 56 people, had suffered "significant losses
in recent years" and was facing a £1m loss over the next year. Air SouthWest axed its service to London Gatwick in February, meaning fewer than
100 people were flying out of Plymouth every day.
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ETS data for 2010 released – Sandbag says the cap and trade scheme is still failing to check the growth of carbon emissions
Date added: 28 April, 2011
Sandbag says their analysis shows that the cap and trade scheme is still failing
to check the growth of carbon emissions, and continues to build up a mountain
of surplus permits. This now stands at 170 million tonnes - the same as the annual
emissions from 40 million cars. The ETS is not (yet) doing a good job, especially
at incentivising green investment at scale and speed. And there are clear arguments
for why complementary policies are necessary alongside the ETS
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BAA allocates £210m to new capital projects at Heathrow in 2013/14
Date added: 28 April, 2011
BAA will allocate £90 million to Crossrail and £210m to new projects under its
£735m capital works programme in 2013/14. The remainder of the budget will be
spent on projects already underway including on the construction of Terminal 2
and upgrades at Terminal 3. The CAA extended Heathrow’s current regulatory period
by one year to 31 March 2014 in response to upcoming government reforms to the
framework for the economic regulation of UK airports.
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Business jet operators slam UK government plan to hit them with APD
Date added: 28 April, 2011
Unsurprisingly, private jet operators are angry about the government's plans
to extend APD to invclude them. They are concerned about having to pay local
environmental taxes in addition to paying for their emissions under the EU ETS. London Executive Aviation wants the levy to apply to foreign operators in order to maintain a level playing
field. The European Business Aviation Association said it would persuade aviation interests to move offshore
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London Oxford says it is “Europe’s fastest growing business aviation airport”
Date added: 27 April, 2011
Oxford Airport saw a 31% increase of business aircraft movements, year-on-year,
[or is it 18%?]. Jet fuel sales at its business aviation facility oxfordjet during the period
were up by 19%. The airport is now handling an average 20 business aircraft movements a day, equating to
approximately 7,000 business aviation movements a year, and has some 35 business aircraft regularly 'living' at the airport. A new Kidlington
train station will speed trips into London.
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Higher fares as Heathrow growth slows
Date added: 27 April, 2011
BAA has downgraded Heathrow's passenger growth expectations over the next decade
and admitted that will push up fares. As the CAA begins to assess Heathrow's regulatory settlement - how much it is
allowed to charge airlines for take-offs and landings- for 2014, Colin Matthews
said: "Although passenger traffic will continue growing at Heathrow, it will do
so at a more modest pace than previously assumed." Airlines were flying more premium passengers, with fewer people on board.
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Carbon emissions ‘hidden’ in imported goods revealed
Date added: 26 April, 2011
The extent of CO2 emissions "hidden" in imported goods is growing, according
to two studies. Official data do not include emissions from making imported goods but they should. The Carbon Trust found such "embedded" CO2 could negate domestic carbon cuts
planned in the UK up to 2025. Carbon cuts are not really cuts at all if countries
are now just buying in products they used to manufacture. The UK's emissions have
been rising for years due to imports.
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Fight against Bristol airport’s expansion plans is far from over
Date added: 26 April, 2011
Stop Bristol Airport Expansion say the fight against the airport’s expansion
plans is far from over. They made the announcement as they are submitting a request
for a Judicial Review to take their case to the high courts. Their lawyers are
confident there is a strong case against the airport’s plans, which would see
it nearly double in size, with nearly double the CO2 emissions, and with serious
traffic and noise impacts for local communities and the environment.
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Branson and O’Leary ‘were wrong’ to deny volcanic ash-cloud risk
Date added: 26 April, 2011
Air traffic controllers were right to close European airspace last year over
fears of the ash plume from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, a study has found.
Samples of its ash taken at the time of its eruption have led scientists to conclude
that serious structural damage to aircraft could have occurred if passenger planes
had continued to fly. Tiny particles could have damaged the exposed surfaces of
any aircraft, including the engines and cockpit windows.
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Community’s windfall from noisy Manchester Airport planes
Date added: 22 April, 2011
Many community groups across the region have earned a windfall from fines paid
by noisy aircraft at Manchester Airport. The airport claims some £2.6m (over 14 years) has been handed out by the airport’s community trust
fund with fines from loud planes contributing to the pot. The annual amount was
down to a record low of just £7,500 last year. Any group within a 10-mile radius of the airport can apply for a grant. (Bit
of airport PR)
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Greenpeace activists occupy oil rig in fight to prevent Arctic drilling
Date added: 22 April, 2011
After a brave fight to protect the arctic from dangerous oil drilling, the occupation of oil rig has ended, all activists are safe. Environmental activists from 12 countries
had occupied the world's 2nd largest rig owned by Cairn, on its way from Turkey to Greenland to drill among the icebergs. The protesters found the semi-submersible platform steaming from Turkey, and
boarded it. The protest is to highlight the enormous dangers of drilling for
oil in cold, Arctic seas.
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Giant M62 wind turbine ‘threatens’ John Lennon Airport planes
Date added: 21 April, 2011
A 250 ft wind turbine planned for a site alongside the M62 would threaten the
safety of planes using Liverpool Airport, it has been claimed. Bosses at the airport have objected, saying the height and location of the turbine
could create a blind spot on its radar. Lancaster-based Wind Direct Limited, the company behind the plan, said it has
suggested a compromise which involves marking the turbine on radar systems. Warrington
council want it to be approved.
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Coventry Airport investment ‘will create 10,000 jobs’ (highly unlikely)
Date added: 21 April, 2011
A £250m regeneration scheme centred on Coventry Airport to create 10,000 new
jobs has been unveiled. Sir Peter Rigby, who bought Coventry Airport last April, says that the new employment
will be generated as soon as 2015. The project would see two developments focussed on the airport itself and its
infrastructure and a joint venture to build a business park nearby - with a technology office park and manufacturing and distribution opportunities
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European roadmap to cut transport carbon emissions by 60% by 2050 marks out a less ambitious route for aviation
Date added: 21 April, 2011
The White Paper on EU transport policy through to 2050 shows plans for reducing
carbon emissions by 60% across all transport sectors relative to 1990. The EC estimate for aviation of a 1% annual average fuel efficiency improvement
and a 34% overall reduction in aviation CO2 emissions by 2050 against 2005 levels
contrasts less optimistically with the aviation industry’s goals of 1.5% and 50%
respectively. There are estimates of as much as 40% biofuel use by 2050.
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Birmingham Airport runway extension expected to be ready by 2014
Date added: 20 April, 2011
The airport agreed this week, when its board met, to go out to tender for its
runway extension and is confident the £65 million project will be started in 2012
and completed by the end of 2014. It hopes to then be able to offer non-stop flights to China, India and the west coast of America. Chris Crean, from West Midlands FoE said the airport is only going to pay a paltry
£7 million and should pay more. "The only reason the A45 needs realigning is to enable the runway extension to
proceed."
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Aviation industry says: “Campaigners should support aviation industry biofuel trials”
Date added: 20 April, 2011
A very biased article, written by the Air Transport Group, and published in the
Ecologist, supports the use of increasing amounts of biofuels by the aviation
industry. And suggests that we all back the industry in its bold work to do the
right thing on biofuels. AirportWatch then sets out reasons why this is misguided,
very partial, and only tells a bit of the truth. In reality the aviation industry
plans to continue growing and producing more emissions.
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MAG calls for more flights from regional airports
Date added: 20 April, 2011
Manchester Airports Group is calling on the government to help stem the flow
of 7 million passengers who travel out of the region and take flights from south
east hubs. The DfT is drawing-up its policy for the future of UK aviation and has invited
views. MAG supports having no new expansions at Heathrow and Gatwick. But unsurprisingly
MAG thinks more should be done to encourage airlines to locate at regional airports,
rather than choosing European bases,
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The British Embassy in China has cut its flights by 68%
Date added: 20 April, 2011
The 10:10 campaign reports that efforts are being made by the Foreign & Commonwealth
Office to cut the carbon emissions of its operations. The Embassy in China apparently
last year significantly cut its use of flights, with staff instead making more
use of train travel and videoconferencing. Even the Ambassador opted for an overnight
train to Shanghai. Each section has been asked to replace 1 in 10 flights with
either a train trip, tele/video conferencing or WebEx.
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Germany joins up with Lufthansa to sponsor biofuel 6 times worse than fossil fuels
Date added: 20 April, 2011
The German government is financing Lufthansa’s biofuel trials. A total €2.5 million of government money is being ploughed into the 6 month €6.6
million biofuel trial. A recent report by ActionAid and RSPB found that the development of jatropha
plantations would produce 2.5 - 6 times more greenhouse gas emissions than fossil
fuels. The German government is wasting taxpayers' money on a technology that
has few environmental benefits, and does much harm.
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International shipping: Slow progress of talks tests EU’s deadline
Date added: 20 April, 2011
Pressure on the EU to take unilateral action on tackling greenhouse gases from
international shipping has grown after talks at the IMO last month failed to make
much progress. This increases pressure on the EU to act on its commitment to take
action in Europe if no international deal is reached by the end of 2011. A group
of developing nations – led India, China, Brazil and South Africa – believes no
such global market based measures are necessary,
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Bosses silent over Newcastle Airport sale claims
Date added: 19 April, 2011
Airport bosses remained tight-lipped amid speculation that the whole of the site
could be put up for sale. Copenhagen Airports, which owns 49% of the airport, has put its stake on the
market following a decision by Macquarie Bank to withdraw. Councils denied that
the other 51% was also up for sale. Without a new equity investor putting cash
into the business councils may have to sell their own stake. They may also have
to pay a great deal of money.
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Rising debt forces Newcastle airport sale
Date added: 17 April, 2011
Newcastle airport has been put up for sale as the local authorities that control
it look to reduce ballooning debts, according to the Sunday Times. The seven local authorities, which own a 51% stake in the airport, have appointed
KPMG to advise them before debt repayments are due. A £320 million repayment is due in December 2013 on a loan the airport took on
in 2006. Copenhagen airports, which owns the remaining 49%, is also keen to sell.
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Planes cheaper than trains on half of popular domestic routes
Date added: 16 April, 2011
Air fares are cheaper than rail fares on half of Britain's 10 most popular domestic
routes, according to a study carried out by the Telegraph. This is despite rises in APD, increases in departure fees on domestic flights from Heathrow,
and a 20% fall in domestic air services since 2005. The rail market's share of passengers on these rose to 44% in 2010, up from 29%
in 2006. The ATOC predicted that by 2012 a majority of passengers would opt for the
train.
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More objections to Dunsfold Park flights plan
Date added: 15 April, 2011
The prospect of Dunsfold Park being transformed into a new airport with unrestricted
private flights has sparked a rising number of local objections. Parish councils representing the villages most directly affected are considering
seeking specialist legal advice due to the implications. The airfield claims a permanent planning consent, granted in 1951 for unrestricted flying, still
stands and means the current cap of 5,000 annual flight movements carries no weight.
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Cardiff Airport’s future in spotlight as bmibaby exit
Date added: 15 April, 2011
Questions have been raised about the long-term future of Cardiff Airport after
Bmibaby's decision to halt operations there. Air lobby group Wales Air Network said Cardiff was on course to become the size
of a much smaller regional airport, such as Newquay. Bmibaby will pull out of Cardiff in the autumn. It employs 69 people at Cardiff, and blamed the economic climate for its withdrawal,
saying it would focus on airports with strong growth opportunities.
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Letter from Bill Hemmings: Subsidy of airlines is well known
Date added: 15 April, 2011
Bill, representing the International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation, writes that airlines do not
pay pay, "in full, for their infrastructure" and that Lufthansa (who should know)
estimated state aid to airlines in Europe since 1991 was worth €20bn. And there’s
been plenty more since then as governments across the continent have rushed to
subsidise new regional airports and new routes, with the European Commission cheering
them on.
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Bmibaby to stop flying from Cardiff and Manchester
Date added: 14 April, 2011
Bmibaby has announced it will cease flying from Cardiff and Manchester airports
from the end of this summer. The airline said it needed to focus on its more established routes during the
current economic climate. As a result, four Bmibaby planes will be redeployed to Belfast, East Midlands
and Birmingham - the only UK airports from which it will fly. It now operates 40 flights a week from Manchester and 30 from Cardiff to European
destinations.
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Biofuels transport targets are unethical, inquiry finds
Date added: 14 April, 2011
A new study by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics says the production of biofuels
to meet UK and European directives violates human rights, damages the environment,
and has led to problems of deforestation and the displacement of indigenous people.
Biofuels also contribute to poor harvests, commodity speculation and high oil
prices which raise the cost of fertilisers and transport. Targets had driven rapid
expansion in parts of the world with lower ethical standards,
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Key meeting over Birmingham Airport runway now the A45 money is secured
Date added: 13 April, 2011
Now that the Government's Regional Growth Fund has allocated £15.7 million for
upgrading the A45, in order for the runway extension to go ahead, there will be
a meeting to decide on next moves. The airport will pay around £7 million itself.
There is the wild claim that the project "promises to create up to 3,400 new jobs
and deliver a £631 million boost to the local economy." From previous experience
elsewhere, this figure is wildly over optimistic.
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More State aid for under-taxed aviation industry as Birmingham Airport to benefit from £15.7 million for A45 upgrading
Date added: 12 April, 2011
Just 1 in 10 of the bids to the government's flagship regional growth fund have
been approved - 50 in total. One is on behalf of Birmingham City Council. It
is for £15.7 million towards upgrading the A45 around Birmingham Airport, "bringing
hopes of an enlarged runway closer to being realised." FoE said this shows "the hand of the Government and with its financial support of the aviation
sector how it can claim to be the Greenest Government ever is beyond us.”
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Scottish airlines say “Treasury ‘confirms worst fears’ of air tax campaigners on APD” “
Date added: 12 April, 2011
The industry continues its campaign to try and oppose APD, and claim it is being
over taxed. In reality, the aviation industry is under-taxed, and the government
is very aware of this. Understandably the airlines complain long and loud. Their
A Fair Tax on Flying campaign fell somewhat flat, and now the grouping, Flying
Matters, has had to be disbanded. The extent of it financial contribution of
aviation to the economy is less than is made out.
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New Chief Exec at EMA has his eyes on long haul in expansion push
Date added: 12 April, 2011
Six months into his post as Managing Director, Brad Miller wants to see 4.25 million passengers using East Midlands Airport
next year. He wants to get flights from the US and the Indian sub continent.
He wants more business passenger, now just 8%. If he can add another two million
people who use the airport, we might get a new terminal. In the year to March 31st 2011, there were 4.06 million passengers (in 2008-9 there were 5.34
million)
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“Flying Matters” crashes: members fall out
Date added: 12 April, 2011
Pro-aviation lobby group Flying Matters has been dissolved after key members
quit. It will disband at the end of the month after BA, Virgin Atlantic, BAA and
MAG decided to form their own group. Virgin and EasyJet disagree on APD. Its director
Brian Wilson was asked the basic question ‘why should there be a freedom to fly?’
"All he could do was bluster that people had come to expect their two weeks on
the Costa del wherever. I should have responded that the Victorian middle classes
expected to pay very little for child chimney sweeps to risk their lives cleaning
out their flues".
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BAA sees traffic at Stansted and Southampton airports slump
Date added: 11 April, 2011
Colin Matthews, BAA chief executive, said the fragile state of Britain's economic
recovery has hit demand for air travel. He warned of the twin dangers posed to the aviation industry by fragile consumer
confidence and rising oil prices as it reported falling passenger numbers at Stansted. The leisure market remains weak, consumer confidence remains fragile. Stansted and Southampton had
year-on-year falls of 7.4% and 8.7% respectively.
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