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Summaries of, and links to, the latest aviation news stories appear below. News is archived into topics
For a daily compilation of UK articles on national and regional transport issues, see Transportinfo.org.uk | For more stories about specific airports see Aviation Environment Federation Transport & Environment Anna Aero TravelMole Press releases from CAA IATA BA Ryanair easyJet Jet2.com For climate change ECEEE news and Guardian Climate and NoAA monthly analysisCheck Hansard for reports on Parliament |
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Latest news stories:
Michael O’Leary’s shadow hangs over sale of Stansted
Potential bidders for Stansted are emerging before a decision by the Competition Commission leading to the break-up of BAA's airport monopoly. However, a hurdle has appeared at Stansted in the form of Ryanair. Bidders have said they would be wary of dealing with O'Leary, and that will be reflected in the price eventually. Ryanair accounts for about 60% of flights. Mr O'Leary is known among airport operators for being demanding. (Times)
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New Thames airport ‘no Heathrow threat’
Air traffic control officials - NATS - have denied suggestions Heathrow would have to close if a new airport was built in the Thames Estuary. A feasibility study into a new airport to the south-east of London, an idea first proposed nearly a decade ago, is due to be published later this month. A cross-party committee of MPs, chaired by Labour MP Nick Raynsford, has also been set up to examine the plan, strongly opposed by the Government. (BBC)
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CAA airport statistics for 2008 show first fall in passenger numbers for 17 years
CAA figures for all of 2008 are now out. UK airports handled 1.9% fewer passengers in 2008 compared with 2007. This is the first time annual passenger numbers have fallen since 1991, and only the 4th time since the end of World War Two. Traffic declined most in the final quarter of the year, with 4 million fewer passengers handled from October to December 2008 than in the same months of 2007. UK airports handled 235 million passengers during 2008. (CAA)
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Aberdeen Airport £7.2 million runway rehabilitation programme starting
A multi-million pound programme of work is about to begin at Aberdeen Airport, which will involve a complete resurface of the main runway. It starts on Sunday 29th March 2009 and should be completed by the end of October. The process involves removing the top layer of runway, in small areas at a time, and replacing the surface, which could add 15 years to its life. (BAA)
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English firm – MAG – set to bid for Scottish airport
The owner of Manchester Airport, Manchester Airports Group, is preparing to make a bid to buy either Glasgow or Edinburgh airport following a move by the UK's competition regulator to break up BAA's dominance of the aviation market. The result of a two-year Competition Commission inquiry is due tomorrow. It depends on whether they are successful in their bid for Gatwick. (Herald)
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Hoon admits figures error on Heathrow exaggerates benefit
The Government has admitted making an error in one of its forecasts on the net benefit of new runways at Heathrow and Stansted. But Geoff Hoon said the mistake did "not materially affect" evidence presented on the impact of expansion of the airport. The Heathrow 3rd runway and 6th terminal net benefit comes down from £5.4billion to £5.1billion. (Standard)
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Minister admits airports expansion blunder (Stansted)
The Government has admitted making an error in one of its forecasts on the net benefit of new runways at Stansted. Geoff Hoon said the mistake did "not materially affect" evidence presented on the impact of the expansion. The mistake - relating to the predicted 2009 GDP growth rate - means the Government has now issued lower net benefit figures for this particular passenger demand forecast - from £8.7bn to £8.6bn. (Peterborough Evening Telegraph)
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Pupils help out with British Airways project – Heathrow
BA has been granted £5,250 from the Forestry Commission, in association with Groundwork London, to plant 2500 trees in its parkland. Children from Heathrow and Harmondsworth Primary schools helped to plant the trees. The schools, the parkland’s Friends Group and volunteers from the airline will create a 5-acre wood which can be enjoyed by the local community. BA owns and manages the 240 acre Harmondsworth Moor parkland. Pity the 3rd runway would obliterate them.
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Glasgow Airport set to suffer 28% fall in business to North America
Glasgow Airport has struggled to replace the hole in its schedules caused by the collapse of Zoom last year, with the seating capacity on flights to North America dropping by more than a quarter this year, according to booking forecasts. Capacity on scheduled flights from Glasgow will fall by 10.6% between January and August this year, compared to the same period last year. It will fall at Aberdeen airport by 6.5%, and grow 5% at Edinburgh. (Herald)
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Competition chiefs check on bidders for Gatwick
The Competition Commission has begun to vet bidders for Gatwick to ensure that they are suitable candidates. The commission's analysis comes as easyJet, the low-cost airline, begins a High Court action today in an attempt to block price increases at the airport. Any consortium deemed to have insufficient funds or experience running an airport will be blocked from submitting a final bid. Those bids are due by the end of April. (Times)
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Heathrow Airport expansion – (Guardian letter)
A Conservative member of the London Assembly says the proposed 3rd runway at Heathrow should be scrapped not because the number of people flying dropped in 2008, but because demand for UK air travel exploded from 95.7 million passengers in 1991 to 238.8 million in 2007. This indicates that unless we say no to expansion and propose an alternative you get piecemeal expansion with a 5th terminal here, a 3rd runway there and so on.
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Air benefits from cash-flow crunch
Plummeting air freight rates, smaller orders and the need to speed cash flow are prompting some manufacturers of high-value finished products to switch from sea to air on AsiaEurope routes. An TNT spokesman said "We’re already moving more goods by air for a number of hi-tech clients that have done the maths and decided that air is cheaper overall, despite the higher transport costs." Air freight rates are as low as US $1.20-$1.40/kg)from Hong Kong to Europe. IFW)
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Private jets carry 2.7 passengers on average – Farnborough
Private jet passengers at Farnborough Airport cause more damage to the environment than users of any form of transport except space travel, according to green campaigners. Each aircraft using the airport has, on average, just two or three passengers on board. TAG's chief executive said that on a fairly typical day last week there were just 2.7 passengers per flight. Private jets generate as much as x8 the CO2 per passenger as taking the train.
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SSE seeks leave to appeal ‘confusing’ High Court decision
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Blow for Kent International Airport as BA Cargo stays at Stansted
Speculation that British Airways World Cargo would leave Stansted to operate from Kent International Airport at Manston is finally over. British Airways World Cargo had decided to stay at Stansted. The airport chief executive, Matt Clarke, said the airport is committed to attracting further freight operators and ensuring the return of scheduled passenger services to a range of destinations in line with the draft master plan. (Kent Online)
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New study by AEF shows airport expansion will destroy UK jobs
A new AEF study of the employment provided by airports and airlines concludes that the Government should stop giving people false hopes about the number of jobs which would be created by the expansion of airports. The study shows Government claims that airport expansion will create thousands of new jobs to be based on unreliable statistics, and if the expansion results in more UK tourists going abroad this would lead to a net loss of jobs in the UK. (AEF)
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£15m plan for Manchester ‘Airport City’
Thousands of jobs may be generated under a blueprint to transform Manchester Airport into a 'mini city' with huge expansion plans for retail, leisure, conferencing and commercial activities across the complex and in the surrounding area. A deal had been struck to buy 30 acres from property giant Burford Group on the outskirts of the airport adjacent to land owned by the city council to form the hub of the Airport City scheme. (Evening News)
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SSE accuses BAA of unbelievable spin on its February figures
BAA’s announcement of a 16.2% drop in Stansted passenger numbers in February has been accompanied by unbelievable spin with BAA attributing half the decline to bad weather and the fact that last February had an extra day. Comparison with February figures for 2007 remove the leap year distortion and shows that Stansted handled 19.5% fewer passengers last month compared to the same month in 2007. This is the 4th consecutive month showing of steep drops. (SSE)
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Climate change: Acid oceans transform marine life, says study
CO2 emissions from human activities are acidifying the oceans and threaten a mass extinction of sea life, a top ocean scientist warns. Dr Carol Turley says it is impossible to know how marine life will cope, but fears many species will not survive. Since the Industrial Revolution, CO2 emissions have already turned the sea about 30% more acidic. It is more acidic now than it has been for at least 500,000 years. The problem is set to worsen as emissions rise. (BBC)
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Biofuels and airlines
Biofuels could be used to fly commercial airlines within the next decade as a viable alternative to kerosene, although costs and concerns over environmental impact remain big barriers. To be commercially viable the fuel has to be environmentally sustainable and not compete with food resources, it has to be a drop-in replacement for traditional jet fuel, and it needs to be cost competitive with existing fuel supplies and be readily available. (Reuters)
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Passenger to come first in airport regulation shake-up
The government has unveiled plans to modernise the regulation of Britain's airports with new measures designed to ensure improvements for passengers. The CAA has been given a primary duty of promoting passengers' interests. The CAA will also be given the job of ensuring airports meet their environmental responsibilities, and that the economic and environmental regulation of Britain's airports are consistent. (Guardian and FT)
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Manchester – Green leader lends weight to Rose Cottage campaign
Dr Caroline Lucas has become the first national party leader to support the campaign to save the historic Rose Cottage in Wythenshawe. Dr Lucas has campaigned nationally and in the European Parliament for an end to airport expansions and a fairer tax regime for the aviation industry. She said if Manchester airport increases its air freight capacity, there will be many other adverse environmental effects, as well as the loss of Rose Cottage. (SEMA)
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Carbon cuts ‘only give 50/50 chance of saving planet’
The world's best efforts at combating climate change are likely to offer no more than a 50-50 chance of keeping temperature rises below the threshold of disaster, according to research from the UK Met Office. The key aim of holding the expected increase to 2C, beyond which damage to the natural world and to human society is likely to be catastrophic, is far from assured, the research suggests, even with radical and enormous programme of cuts. (Independent)
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Sipson loses its oldest resident – Jack Clark
Jack Clark, Sipson's oldest resident, who celebrated his 97th birthday in February, died suddenly in the home he loved and where he was determined to stay, despite the threat of eviction for a 3rd runway. This fascinating man featuring on television and in the press. Most recently he was the subject of an article in the February edition of Saga magazine. Jack's memories of life in rural Sipson painted a vivid picture of life before the airport. (NoTRAG)
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East Midlands Airport expansion plans – the eight-year wait goes on
Judgement day was supposed to come this month for the East Midlands Airport much-vaunted runway extension. But the planning application disappeared from the latest NW Leicestershire District Council's planning committee agenda. The application to increase the runway by 190m was first submitted in September 2000. Steve Bambrick, head of environment at the council said a decision should be made within the next few months. (This is Derbyshire)
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Airline announces new Plymouth to London City route
Air Southwest has today announced it is ‘set to revolutionise travel between Plymouth and London’ with a new route flying direct from Plymouth to the London City airport. It will be a twice-daily direct service from which the airline pledges will ‘fly to the heart of London in just over an hour’. The new service will provide a full business day in London, which is ‘quicker and cheaper than the train’, with all-in fares from just £29. (This is Plymouth)
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Youth market propping up leisure and holiday spend, says lastminute
As many as 70% of consumers are spending more or the same as they did last year on holidays and leisure, a survey by lastminute.com revealed. The online survey found the youth market is driving this trend, with 16 - 24 year olds spending 21% - 30% of their salaries on fun. Holidays remain the most popular leisure activity, with short breaks more popular than longer durations. 31% intended to take a city break this year but 25% plan a 2 week trip. (TravelWeekly)
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Air freight market hits rock bottom
The double-whammy of high inventory levels and low sales that has had such a disastrous impact on air freight traffic may start to ease. Brian Pearce, chief economist at Iata, said the current slump is worse even than that in the oil crisis of the 1970s. There has been a 25% decline air freight over the last 5 months. Once manufacturers get stocks down to levels they are comfortable with, then demand just depends on consumer demand. (IFW)
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That’s for backing Heathrow’s third runway, Lord Mandelson
Protesters wielding foodstuffs, paint and buckets of water have long been a messy occupational hazard for politicians venturing out in public. Eggs, flour, cakes and pies have all been used by demonstrators to make their point, but Lord Mandelson has become the first to fall victim to attack by green custard. Anti-Heathrow activist, Leila Deen, flung the custard contents of a coffee cup in his face as he entered a conference on greenhouse emissions. (Indy)
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London City airport – Fight the Flights Flash Mob Outside People’s Question Time
A Flash Mob greeted the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson before his People's Question Time in Bethnal Green. Its purpose is to send a clear message that residents in and beyond East London deserve a good quality of life and need to be treated equally rather than being ignored. The want Boris Johnson to change his mind and change the lives of local residents on London City Airport. (Fight the Flights)
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Passenger figures crash land after flights are slashed – Doncaster
CAA figures show passenger numbers at Doncaster dipped below the one million mark following 2 years of growth. Last year the site recorded an 8.8% per cent drop in passengers to around 993,000. This was partly due to fewer services by Thomson - its main carrier - to consolidate their business. Passenger numbers grew for the first 4 months of 2008 then then fell every month. There was a drop of 23% in December,compared to Dec 2008 - the worst month. (Free Press)
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Green custard thrown on Mandelson
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson had green coloured custard thrown over him by a protester as he arrived at the launch of a low-carbon summit in London. The protester, Leila Deen, told the BBC that she was protesting on behalf of Plane Stupid. Leila told the BBC that her actions were motivated in Lord Mandelson's involvement in the government's decision to approve a new runway at Heathrow, which will have huge carbon emissions. (BBC)
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Climate is rights issue, says Maldives minister
The foreign minister of the Maldives is calling on the world to make global warming a human rights issue and prevent his homeland from disappearing beneath the waves by the end of the century. "There’s a tendency to think in economic terms and we need to shift the focus to the moral case for tackling global warming," Mr Shaheed said. (FT)
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Aberdeen activists charged in airport protest
Nine people were charged in connection with a protest that caused chaos at Aberdeen Airport. Passengers were left stranded. The chaos came after protesters broke in through the airport’s security fence and set up camp on the tarmac in protest over the Donald Trump golf development and the planned expansion of the airport. Two members also hung a banner off the terminal building’s roof. At least 20 flights faced huge delays, with 10 cancelled. (Evening Express)
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Glasgow Airport launches surface transport strategy
BAA has launched a 5-year plan to improve public transport access and reduce private vehicle use at the airport. The measures have been outlined in the new Surface Access Strategy which sets out a series of targets and actions to be delivered by 2013, when the Glasgow Airport Rail Link is due to become operational. At present, 11% travelling to and from the airport use public transport. BAA aims to get that to 15% or 1.2m by 2012. (Transport Briefing)
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Plane Stupid Scotland shuts Aberdeen airport – 9 arrested
Nine Plane Stupid Scotland protesters shut down Aberdeen airport by setting up a golf course on the taxiway. They surrounded themselves with fortified security fencing whilst others occupied the roof of the terminal building and unfurled a banner reading, "Nae Trump Games with Climate Change". The peaceful protest began at 2.15am whilst the runway was closed. The protest delayed the scheduled opening of the airport at 5am, until 9am. - the aim being to prevent the release of thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.
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Stansted Inquiry postponed – common sense beginning to prevail
Stop Stansted Expansion has welcomed today’s decision by Hazel Blears to postpone the start of the Public Inquiry into BAA’s plans for a 2nd runway - which had been due to start on 15 April. SSE together with the SACC had made formal representations for a deferral of the start date of the Inquiry, because of the unfairness of pressing ahead with the hearing before key matters were resolved. These included the result of SSE’s High Court Appeal into the decision to permit an increase of 10 million passengers a year on the existing runway and the implications of the Competition Commission’s impending report on the future ownership of Stansted. (SSE)
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Bill for Heathrow expansion vote passes first stage
A bill proposed by a Liberal Democrat MP for a vote to be held on whether Heathrow airport should be expanded has passed its first stage through parliament with a majority of 44. Under the Airport Expansion Parliamentary Approval Bill, put forward by Liberal Democrat MP Susan Kramer, parliamentary votes would be required for all major airport expansion schemes. (Various)
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Funds for possible Heathrow legal challenge agreed
Richmond Council’s cabinet agreed to make funds available for a possible legal challenge on the Government’s decision to expand Heathrow. Leader of Richmond Council, Serge Lourie said: "We were absolutely furious with the Government. This was a decision which flies in the face of overwhelming public opposition, in particular from almost 4 million residents in and around London represented by the 2M alliance. (R& T Times)
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Britain’s birds facing extinction as climate change leaves them with nowhere to go
As temperatures rise and European breeds arrive, native species such as the lapwing and Scottish crossbill are being forced out. Soon, say the RSPB and Durham University, many of our rare birds will disappear. Britain's birds are being driven northwards to extinction at an accelerating rate because of global warming. On average British birds will move 550 kilometres north by 2100 as the climate heats up. Article gives details of many species affected. (Observer)
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Ministers ‘ignored’ Heathrow dissent – 86% were opposed
Public opposition to Heathrow’s proposed 3rd runway was far higher than the government admitted, according to a Tory analysis of its consultation. This suggests up to 86% were strongly opposed to the runway. The government said only 37% were clearly opposed. The DfT said: "The decision to support a 3rd runway had already been taken in 2003, so the Heathrow consultation did not explicitly ask people if they were in favour of a 3rd runway or not." (Times)
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Manchester Airport jobs to go after review
Up to 90 jobs are to be axed at Manchester airport because of a drop in passenger numbers, which is expected to continue. Its existing 305 staff would need to reapply for 215 new posts following a review of its employment structure. The Chief executive blamed the recession for the passenger slump. Negotiations with trade unions will start, to avoid compulsory redundancies. 25 jobs would also be lost at East Midlands and 3 at Bournemouth.( BBC)
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Call for limit on Luton night flights
Councillors are calling on Luton Airport to restrict the number of night flights in response to complaints about noise disturbance. A full meeting of Dacorum Borough Council on 25th Feb unanimously supported a motion urging the airport to review its policy and limit night flights to 'at most the current number'. Total flights at Luton had increased from 7,000 in 2000 to 10,000 in 2007. There are currently 36 flights at night, more than Heathrow. (Hemel)
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Right to object to night flights – Doncaster
CPRE and the Green Party are objecting to the Peel application for night-time cargo flights at Robin Hood airport. They say the massive expansion that Peel has in mind will impact on people throughout South Yorkshire, and that the parish councils don't have the power to stop it and Doncaster council is going to put few obstacles in Peel's way. Also that local people need to stand up and make themselves heard before the airport takes over their lives. (Free Press)
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Mandelson in new ‘favours’ row: Minister’s Heathrow PR pal had six meetings with ministers before Heathrow go-ahead
Peter Mandelson is at the centre of a 'favours for friends' row over the proposals to expand Heathrow. Details emerged of the extraordinary access and undue influence the Business Secretary's close acquaintance Roland Rudd - who represents BAA - had to the top tiers of Government. Mr Rudd or his company Finsbury Ltd met ministers at least 5 times in 10 days in the run-up to Labour's unpopular 3rd runway decision, and once a few months earlier.(Mail)
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Recession dashes hopes of passenger increase at Birmingham Airport
Hopes for a dramatic increase in passengers using Birmingham Airport have been dashed by the recession, according to its chief executive, Paul Kehoe who took over running the airport last July. Growth had ground to a halt and may not pick up until 2012. The airport was expected to miss its target of reaching 18 million passengers by 2017, but will still press ahead with plans to extend its runway, to allow long-haul flights. (Birmingham Post)
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Delhi metro carriage delivered by air
The first of 424 Bombardier metro cars [ = carriage] for Delhi arrived in India onboard an Antonov Airlines AN-124-100M high capacity freight aircraft on February 26. The 45 tonne, 22 ·5 m long and 3 ·2 m wide metro car had been moved by road from Bombardier's Görlitz plant in eastern Germany to Parchim airport the previous day. (Railway Gazette)
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Air Freight Slide Deepens in January
The global downturn in air freight sped up in January, with collapsing Asia-Pacific trade pushing international airline traffic down a record 23.2%. The drop reported by IATA outpaced the 22.6% drop in December and the declines after the September 11 attacks in 2001. All regions showed sharp declines. Asia, including China, showed a 28.1% fall in traffic (in freight metric-ton kilometers). Europe showed a 23% decline in international air freight.(ACW)
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Economic Gloom Continues in January international air freight
IATA figures show a collapse in cargo markets in January 2009 with a 23.2% year-on-year demand drop. This is the 8th consecutive month of contraction for freight traffic. Bisignani said "Alarm bells are ringing everywhere. Every region’s carriers are reporting big drops in cargo." Asia Pacific carriers, representing 43% of the market, led the cargo decline with a 28.1% year-on-year drop. European carriers dropped by -23.0% and North American by -19.3%. (IATA)
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Stansted airport expansion timing in doubt
The timing of the expansion of Stansted airport was thrown into doubt on Tuesday as opponents went to the high court to seek to overturn the government’s recent backing for raising the limit on flights. Airlines at the airport, led by Ryanair and EasyJet, as well as local campaigners, have also written to ministers seeking to postpone by up to a year the opening of the planning inquiry into BAA’s plans to build a 2nd runway and terminal. (FT)
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(Newcastle) Transport bosses back “Think North East First” campaign
The Journal has launched a campaign to promote the north east. They are calling on people to support local businesses of all sizes in a bid to help the region through the global financial crisis. The NewcastleGateshead Initiative chief executive said: "We want to encourage our local population to invite relatives from other parts of the country, like Bristol and London, to fly up and visit our region to take advantage of what we have to offer." (Journal)
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(Belfast City) Robinson steps in on airport plan
First Minister Peter Robinson has objected to the terms of a motion on a proposed extension of the runway at George Best Belfast City Airport. The motion calls on Environment Minister Sammy Wilson to establish a public inquiry into the matter. But Mr Robinson said if it was passed the environment minister would be caught between his own planning law and the assembly's decision, and be in an impossible position. (BBC)
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Airport geese risks played down
The threat of a bird strike at a UK airport similar to the recent incident in New York is kept under constant scrutiny, ministers have said. Transport minister Lord Adonis said it was the job of regulators to make sure individual airports had "effective" bird control monitoring procedures. The number of birds in the vicinity of Heathrow was not "unusual", he added. (BBC)
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Stansted Airport legal challenge at High Court
Controversial plans for an expansion of Stansted,which were given the go-ahead by the government are facing a High Court challenge by Stop Stansted Expansion. BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million a year and flights leaving the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year. SSE will argue against the decision in a 3-day hearing, and have accused ministers of disregarding the climate change and noise impacts of the expansion. (BBC)
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High Court challenge to the Government decision to expand capacity on Stansted’s single runway
The Appeal by SSE challenging the Government's recent decision to sanction BAA's application for an additional 10 million passengers a year on Stansted's runway will be heard over 3 days - Tues 24 to Thurs 26 February - in the High Court. If SSE succeeds in its challenge to the legality of the process by which the increase in Stansted's capacity was approved, the decision to allow Stansted to handle an extra 10 million passengers/year would be quashed. (SSE)
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(Belfast City) Greens urge MLAs to vote for probe of airport plans
Assembly members are being urged to vote for a public inquiry into proposals to extend the runway, and can express their feelings when the issue is put before the Assembly for debate by the Green Party. Fiona McKinley of Belfast City Airport Watch, said the message of MLAs to Sammy Wilson and his planners must leave them in no doubt such a scheme is not wanted by the thousands of people whose lives are affected by an expanding urban airport. (Belfast Telegraph)
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It’s back to the drawing board for proposed TCN airspace changes
The airspace change proposal for TCN put out to consultation by NATS a year ago is being taken back to the drawing board after an overwhelming thumbs down. NATS’ plans to conduct a new consultation later this year were revealed in a letter sent to SSE. The proposal to change aircraft stacking areas, arrival and departure routes up to 2014 caused uproar across Essex, Herts, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire because of the threats posed to rural tranquility. (SSE)
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Ryanair to abolish check-in desks
Ryanair has confirmed it plans to close all of its airport check-in desks by the end of the year in a bid to reduce the cost of its flights. From the start of 2010, all Ryanair passengers will need to check in online to confirm their flights. The airline said that by reducing its costs at airports, savings would be passed on to passengers in lower fares, and 75% of its passengers already checked in online. 97% of passengers booked online already (BBC)
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Squabbling derails greenhouse gas efforts, says ex-minister
UK efforts to cut CO2 have been hampered by government infighting and a reluctance to stand up to industry. Elliot Morley, former climate change minister and now head of the energy and climate change select committee, said tensions between different government departments had undermined moves to cut CO2 emissions. These were dismissed inside Whitehall as "idealistic and not giving enough attention to the pragmatic needs of industry", he said.(Guardian)
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BAA to relax its stance on Stansted
The Competition Commission, in its final report due early in March, is expected to call for BAA to be broken up, with the sale of 3 of its 7 UK airports: Gatwick, Stansted and either Edinburgh or Glasgow. Ferrovial is still hopeful of winning some flexibility over the timing of the sale of Stansted, as well as over its own freedom to choose which of Edinburgh or Glasgow airports it should sell. A new owner will have to reconsider the capital spending plans. (FT)
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BAA to put Stansted up for sale
BAA is to stage a dramatic about-turn by selling Stansted, which handles 23m passengers a year and is the centre for no-frills airlines in Britain. The move will finally end BAA’s domination of London airports. BAA is now prepared to drop its objections to the Competition Commission demands. An industry insider said there was no point in BAA going on fighting the Competition Commission, now it has won on the bigger point of expanding Heathrow. (Sunday Times)
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US Jet Fuel Consumption Fell 5.3% in 2008 (air freight)
U.S. airlines burned 5.3% fuel in 2008 and paid considerably less for it, compared with the previous year. In the course of the year, airlines burned 18.83 billion gallons of jet fuel. Declining fuel usage began in January with a tiny drop, and declines were small until a 5.7% slump in August, followed by double-digit dives every month through the end of the year. (Air Cargo World)
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Stansted 2nd runway now facing 6 year delay over White Paper expectations
In a letter sent by BAA's solicitors to SSE and others, BAA has advised that the planned opening date of 2015 (assuming it is granted planning permission) has yet again been put back, this time until 2017. The original expectation in the Air Transport White Paper was that it would be built by 2011/12. Then in 2004 it slipped to 2012, in 2005 to 2013, in 2008 it was 2015. The dream is over for BAA but the nightmare and blight goes on for the local community.(SSE)
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Second Stansted runway is put back again to 2017
The opening of a 2nd runway at Stansted is likely to be delayed by a further 2 years to 2017, it was revealed today. SSE was given the later date in a letter from solicitors acting for BAA. Protesters said the project had been "a farce from the start" and should be scrapped but BAA insisted the runway's completion date depended on a "number of factors". The Aviation White Paper envisaged a 2nd runway in 2011/12, later put back to 2013 then 2015. (Standard)
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Belfast City Airport to fine flights that breach curfew
George Best Belfast City Airport has revealed that airlines which break its late night curfew will be fined — as it emerged there were more than 500 flights after the 9.30pm deadline last year. It hopes to secure planning permission for an extension to the runway. At present, flights should only operate between 6.30am and 9.30pm. However, figures obtained by FoI found that 535 flights were recorded after 9.30pm, 174 after 10pm. (Belfast Telegraph)
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Heathrow 3rd Runway protesters gather at No 10
Protesters demonstrated outside Downing Street against the government's decision to approve a £9bn 3rd runway at Heathrow. Around 200 people joined the protest over last month's decision to allow the runway to be created by 2020. Chanting "No third runway", they vented frustration at Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Heathrow operator BAA. Labour's John McDonnell was one of the speakers. Sipson residents said they will fight to the bitter end. (BBC)
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Ryanair slashes Liverpool flights
Ryanair has blamed APD and the slump in the value for sterling for cutbacks this summer at Liverpool airport. Ten destinations are being cut from the airline’s network from the airport with the loss of 50 pilot, cabin crew and engineering jobs. Ryanair is pulling 1 aircraft out of Liverpool to leave 6, resulting in an anticipated 8% drop in passengers from 2.7 million last year. There will also be further cuts in the winter schedule. (TravelMole)
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Southampton – Climate change protesters chained to airport entrance
A group of activists from Plane Stupid Southampton chained themselves to the airport entrance and erected tents at the main entrance in a bid turn the regional airport into a climate refugee camp. They have also formally submitted a planning application with Eastleigh Borough Council to turn the airport into refugee housing, as part of the protest to highlight rising passenger numbers - expected to rise from 1.84 million/year in 2005 to 3.05 million by 2015. (Indy)
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Cold-hearted cops arrest grandfather for writing in the snow
A retired oil refinery worker turned airport campaigner took advantage of the recent snowfall to send a seasonal message to passengers departing Aberdeen airport. The local constabulary promptly arrested the 65-year-old for writing "Plane Stupid - you fly, they die" in diluted red ink on a snowy hilltop near the airport. He was held for 20 hours before being released after an unimpressed procurator fiscal took one look and threw the case out.(Herald)
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Competition Commission to screen Gatwick bidders
Rival groups seeking to buy Gatwick are to go before the Competition Commission in early March to allow potential bids to be screened by the watchdog. They are already holding meetings with the DfT. The watchdog will only have formal powers over the sale process of the airports after publication of its report. The selection of the preferred bidder is likely by mid-April with a further period of up to six weeks expected to gain antitrust clearance. (FT)
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Manston – Furore over fast track for night flight plans
Changes to night flights were rushed through by Thanet council in the hope of securing a major freight operator. Councillors unanimously agreed to pass changes to flight times to allow planes to take off and land for an extra 30 minutes in the evening until 11.30pm and between 6am and 7am. The agreement, to come into effect in May, is on the condition that the airport signs a deal with a large cargo operator, rumoured to be British Airways. (This is Kent)
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Southend – Councils decide to support airport expansion scheme
A combined report by Rochford and Southend councils says: "The preferred option is to support the airport’s growth through an extension of the runway, together with the development of a new railway station, terminal and aircraft handling facilities. It is not considered desirable for the airport to handle significant volumes of freight due to its location and the pressure on the local road network. (Claims of jobs created should be treated with caution).
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Southend Airport Joint Area Action Plan – Consultation on preferred options starts
Southend Borough Council and Rochford District Council are in the process of preparing a planning framework to guide development at London Southend Airport and the neighbouring employment areas. The councils have published their 'Preferred Option' for the development of the area which is now ready for a further consultation period, which closes on 27th March. The final version of the JAAP will be submitted to the Government during summer 2009. (Southend)
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Ferrovial cashes in on its Belfast asset as George Best is sold
Ferrovial has sold Belfast City Airport, to a Dutch - ABN Amro Global Infrastructure Fund - for £132.5m. This is four times the purchase price five years ago. Belfast's rapid increase in price suggests that infrastructure assets remain attractive despite the credit crunch. Belfast City was owned directly by Ferrovial and not via BAA. About 2.2 million passengers used the airport last year and it expects to grow to 2.7 million this year. (Times)
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London City Airport crash: BA Avro RJ jets have experienced problems before
This incident is the 2nd time in a week that a BA CityFlyer jet has closed the runway at London City Airport. As well as the hard landing at City airport on 13th, on February 5 an Avro RJ suffered minor damage to its nose wheel. The Avro RJ-100 is a medium-sized commercial aircraft with room for 4 crew, and between 85 and 100 passengers. In the past there have been two major incidents involving the Avro RJ-100 with a combined total of 99 casualties. (Telegraph)
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British Airways jet in ‘hard landing’ at London City airport
A BA jet from Amsterdam has been involved in an incident at London City Airport. Eyewitnesses say the front wheels by the aircraft's nose collapsed when the plane made a hard landing. The aircraft skidded to a halt on the runway and its 67 passengers and 5 crew were evacuated using the plane's emergency chutes. Six ambulances were called to the scene but there have been no reports of any major injuries. (BBC)
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Southend Airport rail station to open by end of 2009
A new railway station linking Southend Airport with London could be operational by the end of the year. Discussions have been taking place between Network Rail, National Express and the DfT over building the station. They said the station could be working in time for the winter rail timetable. They also spoke of proposals to extend the runway. The railway station wouldn’t be used for rail freight, but to get passengers from the airport to London. (Echo)
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Firm which gave Heathrow 3rd runway a clean bill of health has links to BAA
A company that the Government hired to help make the case for the 3rd Heathrow runway previously worked for BAA, the Standard has revealed. Environmental consultants AEA was commissioned by the DfT to assess the implications of airport expansion on air quality. Geoff Hoon used the report it compiled to conclude the effect of a new runway on public health would be "marginal". The company had previously worked extensively for BAA.(Evening Standard)
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Get real, BAA tells SSE after they accuse BAA of living in a Walter Mitty world
BAA told members of SSE to "get in the real world" after the lobby accused BAA of "living in a Walter Mitty world of make believe". New figures show passenger numbers and flights at Stansted falling for the 15th consecutive month. Stansted handled fewer flights last month than in any month in the past 6 years and SSE estimates this year it will handle just 155,000 flights - down 20,000 on current levels, which is half the capacity of the existing runway.
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120 jobs set to go at crisis-hit Prestwick Airport
Prestwick airport are axing a quarter of their workforce. They have told their staff that up to 120 jobs are to go. The exact number will depend on the final summer schedules and the ongoing consultation process. There is a major decline in aviation activity throughout Europe. In addition, Prestwick have been hit by some firms moving business elsewhere and the demise of Seguro Holidays. There was even a plan to close the airport at night. (Daily Record)
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