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Summaries of, and links to, the latest aviation news stories appear below. News is archived into topics
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Latest news stories:
Infratil to sell Prestwick and Manston
Infratil may be planning to sell off its remaining airports. Prestwick and Manston could be sold within a year. They already sold their German airport back to the City of Lubeck this month at a near break-even price.
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Bristol – Local tourism jobs lose out with airport growth
Thousands of jobs in the local tourism industry have been lost despite Bristol Airport’s huge growth in recent years. This is shown in a new report from Stop Bristol Airport Expansion, which for the first time compares tourism data for the South West with airport growth figures. The soaring passenger numbers at Bristol Airport between 2001 and 2007 did not result in a boom for local tourism. In fact the tourism sector shrank by 10% in real terms. (SBAE) Report author Jeremy Birch said that given the figures in the study, there was no reason to think that BIA’s proposed 60% expansion is likely to reverse this trend.
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Carbon market clouded by uncertainty
The offices of London's carbon trading companies are quieter than usual. The market could be huge, but its future is now uncertain. It depends on how governments decide to tackle climate change beyond 2012. The World Bank estimates that investment into developing country projects designed to offset their own emissions could grow to £150bn a year. However, growth is not guaranteed and depends on what happens at Copenhagen. (BBC explains it)
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A380 Super-jumbo flights to seat 840
Budget flights using the world's largest aircraft are planned, which will carry 840 people on each flight. Air Austral, based on the French island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean, has ordered 2 economy-only versions of Airbus's giant A380. The flights, planned for between Paris and Reunion from 2014, will carry the most people to date in a single plane. Other carriers that bought the A380 have focused on luring premium business customers.
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Graphs showing number of air passengers by country 2002 – 2010
World Bank data showing numbers of passengers, available as graphs, as well as a table of data, for all countries over 2002 - 2010
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Tories unveil their plan for Cardiff Airport to earn money for the Welsh taxpayer
BA staff have been urged to contact employment solicitors hired by Unite, their union, as new working practices come into force. Unite will also begin to ballot its members over proposed strike action within BA, which last week announced plans to merge with Iberia. BA’s 14,000 cabin crew will have to adopt new working practices from today. More than 3,000 crew will move to part-time work and 1,000 will take voluntary redundancy. (Independent)
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Gatwick – NO Runway pledge given by key Tory MP
At the AGM of GACC, Horsham MP Francis Maude made the pledge that a Conservative government would say no to a new runway at Gatwick. Mr Maude is the man in charge of implementing the next Conservative manifesto. He said "That is a firm Shadow Cabinet decision which will not be changed, whatever the pressure from the airlines. We will be authorising a high-speed rail link to the north of England". (Reigate etc Life)
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Johnson keen to push on with ‘Boris Island’ scheme
Boris seems determined to push on with his demands for a Thames Estuary airport, despite dismissing the scheme only last month. His plans were revealed in a leaked document in which he said construction of the £40 billion floating airport was the "bravest" project GLA could do. A spokesman for Mr Johnson said he could not comment on the document, but confirmed believed an estuary airport would be valuable for London. (Kent News)
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Air Passenger Duty condemned by 100 countries
The Telegraph is running a campaign to get APD scrapped. A recent conference of the World Tourism Organisation in London said that APD will hurt poorer countries as well as Britain's tour operators. The Dutch introduced a similar tax but retracted it. Thailand has dropped 50% of its airport fees and Egypt is considering similar measures. The Caribbean is particularly badly affected due to its banding. (Telegraph)
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Architects, Grimshaw, to oversee Heathrow expansion
Grimshaw is set to masterplan the £13 billion expansion of Heathrow including a 6th terminal and 3rd runway. The practice, which prides itself on its green credentials including designing the Eden Project and being a founder member of the UK Green Building Council, beat firms including YRM, HOK and RMJM in a competition launched by BAA in the summer. An environmental consultant warned that the job could shatter Grimshaw’s image. (BD)
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Llanbedr airfield, Snowdonia, request turned down by National Park
A request to continue using an airfield on the site of a former RAF base in Gwynedd has been turned down. The Snowdonia National Park Authority said it is refusing the certificates that would allow the site at Llanbedr to re-open. The authority said the decision was taken following external legal advice. The developer said it will carry on with plans for a private airfield and business units, but there will be a delay, and possibly a planning inquiry. (BBC)
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BA-Iberia £4.4bn merger creates Europe’s third-largest airline
BA has made its biggest ever strategic move by agreeing a £4.4bn all-share merger with Spain's Iberia to reinforce its position as one of the world's biggest airlines. BA will end up with 56% of the merged group and Iberia, 44%. Both airlines will maintain their national identities, operating companies and brands. Above the 2 operating companies will sit a top company with 7 directors from each airline. It will be registered in Spain. (Telegraph)
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Heathrow writer-in-residence helps plant orchard to stop the 3rd runway
Down on the parcel of land Greenpeace has bought on the site of the proposed 3rd Heathrow runway, a new element is being added to the Airplot - planting an apple orchard. With the help of actors Alison Steadman and Richard Briers, poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy and former Heathrow writer-in-residence Alain de Botton, Greenpeace is planting yet more roots into the land we own on behalf of tens of thousands of people around the world - to stop a new runway.
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Ban on flights over Lake District and Yorkshire Dales is rejected
Campaigners, including CPRE, trying to keep the tranquillity of the National Parks against over-flying are disappointed that the DfT has refused to limit the number of aircraft flying above the parks. The DfT said that tranquillity was a ‘subjective concept’ which would mean different things to different people. Those in favour of over-flying say parks cannot be "pickled in aspic".
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BAA making a £7 million investment in Southampton Airport
BAA is investing in work at Southampton airport, with some cosmetic changes, and some small increases in energy efficiency within the airport. (The changes are infinitesimal in relation to the increased CO2 emissions that would be produced by the planned increases in flights)
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Farnborough Airport application for expansion rejected
The TAG application to increase business flights at Farnborough from 28,000 to 50,000 per annum was refused by Rushmoor Borough Council. Despite advice from planning officers and a panel of aviation experts who urged elected members to back the proposals, councillors voted overwhelmingly (7:1) to block the move. TAG claimed the exansion would bring all sorts of benefits, and not cause any adverse local effects. They may appeal.
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Night flights over London to be allowed during Olympic Games
London residents fear a "relentless noise nightmare" during the Olympics as air industry bosses consider using night flights to cope with the surge in travel to the capital. It has now emerged that the CAA suggests easing restrictions on flights during sleeping hours at all airports while the Games takes place. London airports, particularly Heathrow, already operate near full capacity during the day and there may be a million extra passenggers in summer 2012.
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NASA to fund Boeing for open rotor noise study
NASA's Langley Research Center plans to issue a contract to Boeing to perform noise studies of open rotor engine configurations on several types of airframes in a company-owned low-speed aeroacoustics facility. Airbus and Boeing are each considering new-generation efficient open rotor engine designs as potential candidates to succeed their A320 and 737 families of aircraft after 2020. However, high noise levels to be a key problem. (Flightglobal)
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Cardiff Airport airline (bmibaby) plans to cut 158 jobs
Flights from Cardiff Airport could be affected after bmibaby announced plans to cut 158 jobs. They aim to make the cutbacks from its workers at Cardiff, Birmingham and Manchester Airports. Up to 54 pilot and 82 cabin crew positions at the 3 airports are at risk of redundancy and 22 management and support positions. Bmibaby also announced it was reducing the number of aircraft in its fleet from 17 to 12 next year.
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KLM schedules 1st biofuel test flight with passengers using a camelina blended bio-kerosene
KLM has announced that it will conduct a demonstration flight on November 23 in which one of the 4 engines of a Boeing 747 will be powered by a blended mixture of 50% camelina and 50% standard Jet A1 kerosene. The airline is claiming a world first as passengers will be carried for the first time on a biofuel flight. Camelina was also used in a JAL flight in January. KLM claims the camelina fuel reduced carbon emissions by 84%. (Green air online)
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East Midlands runway extension plans approved
The runway at East Midlands Airport will be extended by 190 metres after councillors approved plans. Officers at North West Leicestershire Council have said there are no grounds for blocking the development. The aim is to allow heavier planes to take off and make the UK's 3rd-biggest freight airport more attractive to long-haul cargo carriers, especially across the Atlantic. Opponents know it will lead to more noise, especially at night, and air pollution.
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Green beliefs win legal protection
Employees who raise concerns about their company's environmental practices won the right to legal redress yesterday after a judge ruled that green beliefs deserved the same protection in the workplace as religious convictions. Environmental views should be protected under the employment equality laws, so workers who are victimised for their strong environmental views such as using aviation to travel to meetings, can bring compensation claims. (Independent)
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Campaigners Unite to Stop Airport Growth in Europe
At a major conference in Brussels, campaigners forged new alliances to stop the growth of aviation across Europe. The campaigners from almost a dozen European countries will be co-ordinating their campaigning activities to stop the expansion of airports and the growth of flight numbers in Europe. Those present included many from local airport groups, representatives of national NGOs, and direct action activists such as the UK direct action network, Plane Stupid.
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£10 billion a year tax bonus for airlines revealed on eve on increase in Air Passenger Duty
On the eve of the increase in APD, fiercely contested by the aviation industry, AirportWatch, the coalition of campaign organisations opposed to the Government’s airport expansion plans, has released data which shows that aviation continues to receive significant tax-breaks. Treasury figures show the notional benefit that aviation receives by paying no fuel tax and no VAT is up to £10 billion a year. By contrast APD in 2009-10 is expected to raise £1.8 billion.
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Plans for 3rd runway at Heathrow hang in balance
A high court review in February could force ministers to reconsult on giving permission for any expansion at Heathrow. The high court will stage what lawyers describe as a "rolled-up judicial review". The 3-day hearing could force ministers to consult again on the most contentious aspects of building another runway, such as the impact of noise pollution on local residents or the resulting rise in carbon emissions. (Observer)
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Green private jets? Don’t make me laugh (Fred Pearce)
Now you can hire your own private plane and bask in the glow of being carbon-neutral at the same time. Several private aviation companies are offering carbon offsets, and claim they are becoming carbon neutral. The cost of those offsets will generally be less than 1% of the hire cost of a plane. The rich will barely even notice the cost, while feeling their consciences salved. These companies are also looking at biofuels. This is unpardonable greenwash.
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Brown’s opposition to European climate change resistance
The Copenhagen meeting could be jeopardised by European wrangling over the cost of tackling global warming, Gordon Brown warned EU leaders. He spoke amid fierce resistance among a majority of EU member states to his call for them to commit budgets now - between €7bn and €10bn a year to emerging nations from 2020 - to help them cope with climate change. Opposition is being led by Poland with the backing of 8 eastern and central European countries. (Independent)
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BAA losses widen on Gatwick sale and falling passenger numbers
BAA's pretax loss widened in the first 9 months of the year - to £784.7m -after losses on the forced sale of Gatwick and falling passenger numbers. The pretax loss was £519.5m over the same period last year. There was an exceptional charge of £261m related to an "increased pension scheme deficit" and a £136m loss on financial instruments. BAA wrote down another £225m on the shortfall between Gatwick's sale price and its valuation. (Guardian)
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Lydd Airport determination to be on 3rd March 2010
The meeting to determine Lydd Airport's planning application will take place on Wednesday 3rd March 2010 at Shepway District Council. The local group, LAAG, have found out through FoI that the airport challenged Shepway District Council's Officer's Report, published July 1st 2009, and the long delay in getting determination has been due to the council accommodating the airport's wish to overcome the objection. (LAAG)
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Possible Go-ahead to Farnborough to double number of flights
Rushmoor Borough Council is apparently minded to approve a doubling of flights at Farnborough Airport. Local residents and objectors got a letter from Rushmoor to tell them the Council was minded to double the number of movements at Farnborough Airport. The upper limit on movements will go up from 28,000 movements to 50,000 movements. The planning meeting takes place on Weds 11 November and campaigners are encouraged to attend. (Indymedia)
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Many more A380s expected to be using Heathrow in coming decades
London Heathrow has said it is expecting the number of A380s to be using the airport to triple to 30 by 2020 as slot constraints impact on the fleet choices being made by its resident airlines. More airlines will use the A380 on existing routes to maximise capacity. Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas and Singapore currently operate the A380 from Heathrow, with Thai rumoured to be considering a daily Bangkok service in 2013 and BA and Virgin Atlantic receiving their first A380s next year. There are currently the nine A380s operating from Heathrow making over 15,000 flights to and from the airport. Heathrow has the capacity to deal with the 80 metre wingspan. However, though theoretically the A380 can carry about 850 passengers, all in economy class, in effect they are only configured by the airlines to take 407 - 538 depending on the airline. Planes tend to have 8 - 10 first class seats, and 70 - 80 business class or equivalent. So they are not as fuel efficient per passenger as the industry make out. Heathrow has a lot of spare terminal capacity. It could accommodate at least another 20 million passengers a year.
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Farmer taking Carlisle Airport fight to appeal court
A farmer hoping to scupper plans for a passenger airport on the edge of Carlisle is to take his fight to the Court of Appeal. Mr Brown objected to the city council’s 2008 decision to grant planning consent to Stobart Group for warehousing and offices, as there had been no adequate environmental impact assessment, but the case thrown out by a High Court judge. Now, Mr Brown intends to seek leave to take the case to the court of appeal. (News & Star)
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Tranquillity is ‘subjective’, rules Government
The DfT has now said flights over national parks will not be capped because tranquillity is a "subjective" concept. Replying to a call from the House of Commons' own Transport Committee for flights over national parks and AONBs to be limited, ministers said that to do so would be "impractical". Current guidance appears to allow unchecked increases in aviation activity over these areas." Planes overhead are intrusive as background sound is so low.
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Noise pollution besieges Europe’s cities
The European Environment Agency have released a report on the number of people in European cities who are exposed to transport noise - road, rail and air. More than 41 million people in cities of at least 250,000 people from 19 countries deal with road noise of 55 decibels or higher, the WHO threshold for health impacts. Some 3.6 million urban dwellers cope with levels of 70 decibels or higher. The UK is one of the worst affected by aircraft noise.
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NATS defers TCN plans – yet again
On February 23 2009 NATS announced it would conduct a new consultation on revised proposals for the TCN (Terminal Control North) region. On October 22 2009 NATS announced that, as a result of the further work still required to be done on the designs and the downturn in air traffic internationally, any further consultation would not now be held before September 2010 at the earliest.
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Controversy Over Stobart’s Southend Airport Truck and Rail Freight Plans
Stobart's plans for the redevelopment of Southend airport have come under fresh criticism as new questions were raised by local residents on whether the company’s proposed plans are actually their true intention. Some residents feel Stobart has little interest in using Southend for flight operations, freight or otherwise, but as a new hub for its multi modal business. The airport is cheap land on which to build a road and rail depot.
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Manchester Air freight expansion rejected by Wythenshawe Councillors
On 22nd the Wythenshawe Area Committee rejected plans by Manchester Airport for a freight depot, doubling the airport's freight capacity. Over the past 2 years, the amount of air cargo handled by the airport has halved. The plans - which would require the demolition of Rose Cottage and habitat damage - will now go to the main Manchester Planning committee which will have the final say in November.
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DfT to airlines: Buck stops with you on CO2
The UK Director General of Civil Aviation, Jonathan Moor, has issued a stern reminder to the airline industry that it will soon be held accountable for its carbon footprint. Writing to the heads of 891 UK-regulated aircraft operators, he urged carriers to prepare for a tough new EU directive governing aviation emissions. From January 1st 2010 all European airlines will be held responsible for monitoring and recording the CO2 their flights emit. (Cheap Flights)
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Massive increase in global biofuel production
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EU agrees aviation emissions targets
European Environment ministers have agreed that Europe will pursue global targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions from aviation by 10% by 2020 from 2005 levels, at international talks on climate change. IATA said 10% was unrealistic by 2020 as they can only manage 1.5% per year. The EU wants shipping and aviation to be part of an international agreement at Copenhagen in December. A global levy on shipping and airline fuel could raise €7-€12 billion per year.
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GIP faces pressure to prove itself at Gatwick
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Design changes to Dreamliner cause Boeing loss
Aircraft maker Boeing has blamed a third-quarter net loss of $1.6bn ( £974m) on rising production costs and poor market conditions. The latest results reflect charges incurred to modify Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and the new updated version of its 747 jumbo jet. The first 3 test Dreamliners were undergoing so much modification that they had no commercial market value. (BBC)
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Plane Stupid turf Virgin Atlantic out of their seats at the PR awards
Last night 7 Plane Stupid activists and one Heathrow resident popped over to the PR Week Awards and hijacked a table reserved for Virgin Atlantic. Virgin have been strong advocates for the 3rd runway at Heathrow and expansion of Britain's airports. Dressed in glamourous evening wear, the activists entered the glitzy awards, which celebrates the highlights of the year's public relations work. They occupied Virgin Atlantic's table and refused to leave.
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BAA sells Gatwick Airport to GIP for £1.5bn
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Gatwick sold by BAA for £1.5 billion as new owner plans expansion
As part of the deal, BAA said £55 million of the sale price was conditional on the airport's traffic performance and Global Infrastructure Partners' future capital structure. The sale is expected to prompt a series of developments at Gatwick. GIP is understood to want to attract holidaymakers rather than businessmen as part of its strategy, and get business from international airlines offering packages in far-flung locations, and also Europe. (Times)
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Campaigners warn Gatwick’s new owner
The new owner of Gatwick airport, GIP, must not "ride roughshod" over the local community, the head of the area's conservation group has said. Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) says there are now concerns that "a faceless international consortium will squeeze every pound it can out of the airport rather than addressing local worries". GACC hopes the new owners will continue the relationship between the airport and the local community. (Independent)
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Switch in Heathrow take-offs ‘will cause more aircraft noise’
Residents living near Heathrow face longer periods of noise disruption under plans to change landing and take-off arrangements. Local people fear BAA is looking to widen special procedures that allow planes to land and take off from the same runway - so compromising the half-day "peace and quiet" - and going for mixed mode. This might happen without a 3rd runway. This could mean thousands of homes in Ealing and Brent would be disrupted. (Standard)
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Birmingham International Airport sets out to lure flights from Heathrow
Birmingham chief executive Paul Kehoe has stepped up his campaign to lure passengers and flights from Heathrow by pointing out that BIA could handle twice as many passengers a year immediately without engaging in any costly reconstruction work. He said using Birmingham would be far more efficient than the proposal to build a new London airport in the Thames Estuary - and take the pressure off Heathrow by making more use of BIA. (B'ham Post)
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Saudi Arabia plans to build three ‘airport cities’ and 13 airports
Saudi Arabia’s 3 main international airports in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam will be turned into ‘airport cities’, officials have said. The kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation is already looking at proposals by up to 30 private aviation firms to develop the three airports and the land around them. Aviation chiefs in Saudi Arabia have announced plans to develop 13 domestic airports in an effort to meet the growing traffic demand.
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Government puts Gatwick expansion plans on hold
The Government has imposed an Article 14 Direction on Crawley Borough Council to prevent them giving planning permission to extend the North Terminal until the Government decides whether there should be a public inquiry. Crawley had unexpectedly brought forward a decision on the BAA planning application, and it was debated on 19 October. The Council were ‘minded to approve’ but prevented from giving the go-ahead.
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Heathrow villages resident joins activists at PR Awards protest
The day that BAA started to buy up homes in readiness for a 3rd runway, a Heathrow villages resident decided to join Plane Stupid activists to highlight the plight of residents. Christine, whose 78-year old mother, and sister live in the area that would be demolished, said when she heard that BAA were starting to buy up homes, knowing the runway is unlikely to ever be built, something had to be done to highlight what BAA is doing to local villages.
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BAA to start buying up Sipson homes in runway demolition area
BAA has sent letters to all residents in the area that would be demolished for a 3rd runway to say that the company will buy properties ahead of announcing their intention to submit a planning application. This action has been taken following pressure on BAA to do something to address the problem of residents who are unable to sell their homes due to the third runway threat but whose personal circumstances mean they have a desperate need to move.
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Gatwick extension faces objection
Campaigners against the expansion of Gatwick are objecting to plans to extend its North Terminal and build a multi-storey car park. Gatwick has submitted 2 applications to Crawley council for developments which will allow it to handle an extra 5 million passengers a year by 2018. Objectors say the plans will increase noise, pollution, traffic and create water shortages. Gatwick said environmental impact had to be balanced with economic benefits. (BBC)
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Brown warns of climate change catastrophe
Gordon Brown warned today of a "catastrophe" for the planet if action to tackle climate change is not agreed at forthcoming UN talks on global warming.Speaking to representatives of 17 countries at the Major Economies Forum, convened as part of efforts to secure a deal at the UN Summit in Copenhagen in December, the Prime Minister warned of the economic, human and ecological impact of a failure to cut the emissions driving up temperatures. (Independent)
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Heathrow-on-Sea travel hub inches towards Heathrow airport
Plans to relieve congestion at Heathrow by building a sister airport in the Thames estuary have moved a step closer. The 4-runway travel hub would be connected to the existing airport by a 200mph rail line that would enable passengers to transfer between flights in 45 minutes. The project has been declared technically feasible in a report commissioned by Boris Johnson. He has now appointed Sir David King to conduct a more detailed study. (Sunday Times)
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The world’s future is being decided this weekend
Nicholas Stern says we must agree to halt deforestation and curtail air travel now if the Copenhagen summit is to succeed. Energy and environment ministers from the world's major economies are meeting in London today to try to accelerate crucial negotiations. Global annual CO2 emissions must be reduced to below 44bn tonnes by 2020, and international shipping and aviation could reduce the global total by at least half a billion tonnes. (Observer)
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Southend Airport expansion plans submitted
Southend has submitted an application to Southend Council to extend the runway from 1605 metres to 1905, which will allow larger planes to carry business and leisure passengers to destinations all over Europe. If approved, the runway could be operational in 2011, in time for the Olympics. As well as the runway, the application is for a new terminal and diversion of Eastwoodbury Lane. It is expected to cost in the region of £30-40 million. (UK Airport News)
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Mayor keen on island airport plan
London's mayor is to press ahead with the next stage of plans for an airport in the Thames estuary. A report by an engineer is understood to have found no major obstacles to constructing the airport several miles off the Essex and Kent coasts. Boris Johnson is expected to announce he is to proceed with more engineering and environmental assessments. It has angered environmentalists and Kent County Council has said it would fight the plans. (BBC)
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David Wilshire to stand down over £100,000 allowances paid to own company
David Wilshire, a Conservative MP who is facing questions over why he paid more than £100,000 of public money to his own company, will not stand at the next general election. He had referred himself to John Lyon, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, after the sums he had paid to Moorlands Research Services between 2005 and 2008 were revealed. (David Wilshire has been a strong advocate of the third runway at Heathrow). (Times)
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Terror Act used on climate activist
Terror legislation was used to stop a British climate change activist from travelling to Denmark. Chris Kitchen was prevented from crossing the border when the coach he was travelling on stopped at the Folkestone terminal of the Channel Tunnel. Police boarded the coach and, after checking all passengers' passports, took him and another climate activist to be interviewed under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 which allows stop and search. (Indy)
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UN Climate Talks May Need Extra time In 2010
World climate talks may need extra time next year to agree cuts in greenhouse emissions for 2020 since US laws are unlikely to be in place before a UN meeting in Copenhagen. A deal from the 190-nation December 7-18 talks may focus on finance to help developing nations confront global warming, technology and institutions. But a key goal of fixing country by country targets for the rich to curb emissions by 2020 may slip. Details will need to be worked out later.
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Route move by Easyjet ratchets up Belfast airports war
The battle between Belfast's rival airports has reached new heights after Easyjet announced it is switching a core route from Belfast International to George Best City Airport. Easyjet said it will switch the twice daily London Luton service it currently operates from January. Belfast International posted a =15% drop in passenger numbers in August from the same month last year compared to Belfast City's +8% increase and a +6% rise in September.
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Transport Noise: World Health Organisation Support Quieter Nights
The long awaited new guidelines on noise levels at night, have at last been published by the WHO. These recommend an annual average night noise exposure not exceeding 40 decibels (dB) – equivalent to a quiet residential street. WHO say that while levels above this can cause sleep disturbance and insomnia, prolonged exposure to noise above 55dB at night can trigger raised blood pressure and even heart attacks.
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Legal challenge to London City Airport clears first legal hurdle
The High Court has given Fight the Flights costs protection for their legal challenge to Newham’s decision allowing increased flights from London City Airport. Without costs protection, Fight the Flights would have been at risk of unlimited costs liability and could not have proceeded with the case. Costs protection is only normally given where the Court recognises the public importance of the case.
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Bristol Airport boss says campaigners flight cap argument ‘flawed’
At a meeting of North Somerset Council's central area planning committee on October 8, Stop Bristol Airport Expansion (SBAE), a group representing the regions residents, argued the number of passengers using the airport should be capped at 8 million a year. The planning application before North Somerset Council is for facilities to handle growth to 10 million passengers per annum over the next decade to 2019. (UK Airport News)
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Andy Judge from Luton takes over at Carlisle
Andy Judge, from Luton Airport, has become airport director at Carlisle airport. Stobart owns the airport and has planning permission for a £25m redevelopment which would provide an HQ and warehousing for its Eddie Stobart subsidiary and facilities for Stobart Rail.
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Pilots protest over long flying hours
Airline pilots are demonstrating across Europe because they say long flying hours are "putting lives at risk". European air crew unions argue current rules that govern how long they can fly for are unsafe, with fatigue a factor in 15% of accidents. The European Aviation Safety Agency says it is still considering a scientific report on the issue. In Brussels the protesters handed out fake boarding passes to the public, carrying health warnings. (BBC)
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In depth: Heathrow third runway
A Sunday Times article reported 'senior BAA figures' claiming they would wait until the General election before submitting the plans. By Monday morning, BAA attempted to save face, with their press office issuing a statement suggesting they were continuing to work on the scheme. It will be virtually impossible for BAA to bring it back in 5 - 10 year’s time. It lacks public support. Climate change and rising oil prices are likely to knock new runways for six.
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Government in ‘Hannibal’ retreat over special administration regime for airports
The Government has ditched controversial proposals to impose a "special administration regime" on Britain's major airports that threatened to wreck the finances of BAA. The proposals, in March, by the DfT to have given ministers "step-in" rights if the company failed seriously concerned lenders to BAA. Lord Adonis has now said he will not proceed with the proposals. He plans to introduce instead a form of licence condition. (Telegraph)
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Even with no new runway Heathrow is still far too big
Simon Jenkins asks: So is it victory? Sensational weekend reports that BAA has abandoned its bid for a 3rd runway at Heathrow remain unconfirmed, and indeed denied by the company. If green policy is to mean anything it must curb mobility, and that will mainly be by price. Heathrow is essentially an urban airport imposing severe external costs on its city. It should be made very expensive to use.
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Airline claims first with flight by natural gas
Qatar Airways said it had put paying passengers on a flight powered by fuel made from natural gas for the first time, in what could be an important step in the industry’s attempts to lower dependence on oil-based fuel. Shell developed the 50-50 blend of synthetic gas-to-liquids (GTL) kerosene and conventional oil-based kerosene used on the flight. An AEF member said GTL was useful for local airport air quality but has a higher carbon footprint than ordinary fuel. (FT)
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Ocean acidification rates pose disaster for marine life, major study shows
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BAA puts plans for 3rd Heathrow runway on hold after Tory opposition
BAA will not submit a planning application for a 3rd runway at Heathrow airport before the next general election, following Tory opposition to the expansion. It would not sign large contracts in order to 'bounce' a future Conservative government into accepting the project. They say the planning process was always going to take until after the general election, and they continue to work on the application and will take as long as is necessary to prepare it. (Mail)
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BAA may shut a Glasgow terminal in winter
BAA has confirmed it is considering the closure of a terminal for a few weeks in the winter to cut costs. A spokesman said the closure of Terminal 2 was one of "a range of options" being looked at. It has been used as a check-in for Easyjet after it opened 5 years ago to deal with the main terminal's overspill. BAA said Glasgow airport must control its costs - particularly during times of recession - so that it remains competitive. (BBC)
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GACC are calling for Gatwick terminal expansion enquiry
A planning application to extend Gatwick Airport's North Terminal may be called in by the Government and lead to a public inquiry, the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) has suggested. The group has written to Crawley Borough Council's head of planning objecting to a full application from the airport for the building of southern and eastern extensions to the North Terminal in Departures Road. (UK Airport News)
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Greenpeace volunteers occupy Parliament to save the climate
Fifty-five Greenpeace volunteers scaled the walls of the Houses of Parliament and occupied the roof with banners saying "CHANGE THE POLITICS, SAVE THE CLIMATE". Greenpeace is calling for a new style of politics in Britain, to meet the challenge of climate change. Around 20 stayed for the night on the roof. Britain needs a step change in the scale of emissions cuts, with only 60 days till Copenhagen. The UK needs politicians who are thinking about the next generation, not just the next election.
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BAA to give up on third Heathrow runway
BAA has bowed to opposition to a 3rd runway at Heathrow. It will not submit a planning application before the general election and will not sign large contracts to "bounce" a future Conservative government into accepting it. Senior BAA figures have also told the Tories the company will cease to fight for the runway if they form the next government. Publicly, BAA executives are urging the Tories not to "close the door" on expansion plans and say they are still working on the project. But they admitted they were surrendering.
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Stansted contiues to bear brunt of decline in airport traffic
The BAA figures for September show that Stansted continues to decline at a far faster rate than BAA’s other airports. Stansted carried 11.6% fewer passengers in September 2009 compared to the same month last year whilst the decline at both Heathrow and Gatwick was less than 1%. This is the 23rd month in a row that Stansted has posted a decline. SSE projects that Stansted will handle 155,000 flights this year, the lowest annual total for 7 years. (SSE)
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Greenwash: why biofuels are just hot air
Ben Webster shows that the aviation industry's hope of a "get out of jail free" card, of using biofuels to let them continue expanding, is false. Sustainable sources of biofuel may be developed, but not in time to give airlines the get-out-of-jail-free card they want to wave in Copenhagen in December. In May, IATA claimed that 1% of aviation fuel could be biofuel by 2015. Then last month, IATA said that it was aiming for 10% biofuel by 2017. But how? (Times)
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Southend Airport agreement is a scandal say Lib Dems
THE new deal between Southend Airport and local councils on the number of night flights and other operational details fails to answer many concerns, according to an opposition councillor. New measures have been agreed with the ruling Conservatives on Southend and Rochford District councils, without consulting others. The deal contains some restrictions on the airport's future operations, but they are not stringent, and do not satisfy opponents.
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