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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:
Ex-BA boss Bob Ayling condemns Heathrow expansion
BOB AYLING, former chief executive of BA, has attacked plans to expand Heathrow airport as a "costly mistake" that is "against Britain’s economic interests". His opposition to the proposal for a third runway strikes at the heart of the government’s case that it is essential for the health of the country’s economy. He says transfer traffic is loss making and BAA should cut transfer flights so Heathrow operates at 80% capacity not 99%. (Sunday Times)
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Airports Commission publishes its “sift criteria” for long term capacity options at UK airports
The Airports Commission has published its "sift criteria" by which it will determine which options for additional long term airport capacity submitted by airport scheme proposers/ developers should be taken forward for more detailed development, "should a need for more capacity be identified." It sets out a range of criteria on economic, social and environmental matters. For instance, on noise it asks: "What are the noise implications of the proposal? How will the proposal alter current and predicted patterns of noise in the surrounding area? What changes to noise profiles would be seen at other airports as a result of the proposal? What measures are envisaged to limit or reduce the number of people affected by noise?" And on climate it merely asks "How might the proposal compare, in terms of its impact on greenhouse gas emissions, with alternative options for providing a similar amount of additional capacity?" but does add "The Commission’s consideration of climate change will primarily focus on the overall compatibility of any potential growth in UK aviation with national and international climate change frameworks." See the whole list of sift criteria.
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Next decade ‘may see no warming’ – before temperatures rise again
The Earth's temperature may stay roughly the same for a decade, as natural climate cycles enter a cooling phase, scientists have predicted. However, temperatures will again be rising quickly by about 2020. The key to the new prediction is the natural cycle of ocean temperatures appears to come round about every 60 to 70 years. (BBC)
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Council agree Carlisle Airport redevelopment plan
Carlisle Airport is ready for take-off after Carlisle city councillors agreed a revised list of planning conditions acceptable to airport owner Andrew Tinkler. The Government Office North West could still effectively scupper the scheme if it calls a public inquiry - it has 28 days to decide. The 63 planning conditions that the council originally wanted to impose have been whittled down to 54. (UK Airport News)
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Horse racing faces battle in the sky
Leading racehorse breeders are to fight controversial plans for a new aircraft stacking zone above Newmarket, amid fears it could destroy the heart of Britain's multimillion-pound horseracing industry. Plans that would see up to 33 planes an hour, circling over a major horse breeding area, threaten to drive away the world's top stud owners. They are fighting back. (Observer)
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BAA told to spruce up Stansted operations
The CAA has added its voice to the criticisms of BAA, saying it needs to improve operation and communications at Stansted Airport. The CAA's comment was part of its referral of the pricing mechanism at Stansted to the Competition Commission. Airlines said the report opened the door for over inflated increases in landing charges at Stansted. (Telegraph)
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British Airways raises fuel surcharges again
BA says it is increasing fuel surcharges on long and short-haul flights from 2 May, due to oil prices. The surcharge for short-haul flights will increase to £13 per single flight from £10, or to £26 for a return flight. For one-way flights of less than 9 hours it will increase from £53 to £63. For flights of more than 9 hours, it will rise from £64 to £79, or £158 for a return journey. (BBC)
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East Midlands and Birmingham – Report raises failures on cargo flight ‘catastrophe’
A string of failures caused a plane to crash-land at an airport before taking off again and carrying out an emergency landing at another, a report by air accident investigators has said. It highlights inappropriate and incorrect procedures that could have led to a ‘catastrophe’. The plane landed at East Midlands airport, and then at Birmingham, in June 2006. (UK Airport News)
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New planning rules ‘will push through third runway’
It has been confirmed that Ministers are to fast-track expansion of Heathrow airport under new planning rules. The proposals for a 3rd runway could be decided within less than a year by a new planning commission - sparking fears it will be railroaded through in the face of widespread opposition from Londoners. The same process could be used for the proposed switch to using current runways for both take-offs and landings. (Evening Standard)
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The Soil Association stands by its standards on airfreighted food
Peter Melchett, Policy Director of the Soil Association, defends the Association's decision to continue to allow airfreighted products to be regarded as organic only if they meet Fairtrade or similar ethical trade standards. Air freight emits 177 times more greenhouse gases per food mile than shipping. Nothing else we do to our food between planting the seed and buying the finished product produces so much CO2. (Guardian - letters)
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“I’m trying hard to be eco-friendly. But please don’t ask me to give up flying to visit my family”
Tahmina Anam, a Pakistani living in Britain, argues that she cannot ever give up flying back home, however hard she wishes to cut her carbon emissions. The flights to visit friends and family are "love miles". She says "there is no other way to live apart, no other way to make it OK that our lives happen in each other's absence, than to allow ourselves the promise of regular visits." (Guardian Comment)
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National Express East Coast trains are on average 21% more punctual than planes between Edinburgh and London
National Express East Coast trains are on average 21% more punctual than planes between Edinburgh and London, according to new research just published. The research also compared train punctuality favourably with domestic air travel performance on the Leeds to London and Newcastle to London routes during 2007. Price also compared well. (National Express press release)
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BA boosts link to London City
BA is to expand its schedule between Edinburgh and London City Airport. From September, BA CityFlyer will operate 10 return services a day between the cities – two more than its existing schedule. BA introduced its London City-to-Edinburgh service in 2003, with three daily return services. (Edinburgh Evening News)
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Guardian’s top 100 flight free holidays
Guardian's top 100 flight free holidays
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BAA compulsory purchase powers to be examined by Competition Commission
Stop Stansted Expansion welcomed the publication of the Competition Commission's 'Emerging Thinking' Report on BAA's airport monopoly. In further bad news for BAA - but news that will be very welcome to many local homeowners and landowners - the Competition Commission has announced that it is to investigate potential abuse by BAA of its compulsory purchase order (CPO) powers. (SSE)
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BAA – UK to review how airports are run
The government will review the economic regulation of the UK's airport system after a report said that operator BAA may be failing airlines and consumers. In its report, the Competition Commission stressed that it had not yet reached any conclusions over the fate of BAA. BAA's Chief Executive,Colin Matthews, who took over on 1st April, disputed the suggestion that the sale of some of BAA's airports would improve capacity. (BBC)
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Heathrow – T5 shops seek rent rebate
Disgruntled retailers at Heathrow Terminal 5 are to demand rent reductions from airport operator BAA following ‘dreadful’ sales in the wake of the building's chaotic opening, the Telegraph reports. It says that many retailers' sales have fallen well below their budgets due to disruption caused by cancelled flights and lost baggage. (UK Airport News)
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Walsh hits heavy turbulence – and the “Wee Willie Walsh” game
Not many chief executives have a computer game named after them, but players of 'Wee Willie Walsh' can manoeuvre the beleaguered boss of British Airways around a baggage carousel, scoring points by getting him to place bags on to the conveyor belt safely. Since the end of March BA has lost an estimated 19,000 bags, most of which were driven to Milan for sorting. (Observer)
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Birmingham Airport runway extension could hit homes
More than 20 families could be forced from their homes if Birmingham Airport is granted permission to extend its runway. The airport's application to extend the runway by 405 metres is due to go before Solihull borough planners later this month. Some of the people living at the Haven Caravan Park, on Catherine-de-Barnes Lane, have been on the site for decades. (UK Airport News)
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Businessman wants to save Sheffield Airport
A millionaire businessman bankrolling a legal fight to save Sheffield City Airport has revealed he is interested in buying the site as a going concern - and said its loss would be ‘madness’. A group supporting this bid hopes to get a court injunction to stop the runway being dug up after the airport shuts on April 30. (UK Airport News)
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Some of the crazily heavy oil drilling equipment that gets air freighted …
Some of the most unlikely things get air-freighted, including oil drilling equipment. Here is a selection of some of the heaviest: tonnes of oil drilling equipment to Congo; 31 tonne transformers; 15 massive ‘Christmas tree’, and component parts of oil drilling equipment required by an Egyptian oil development. (Air Cargo news and others)
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Passengers up 12.1% at Bristol Airport
Passengers were up by 12.1% at Bristol Airport in March to 503,449, with an increase in low cost and charter capacity. Domestic passengers were down 11.3% but international passengers increased 24.4% (to 325,000), mostly as a result of the opening of the new Ryanair base in November 2007. (UK Airport News)
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Watchdog could call time on BAA monopoly in South East
The Competition Commission will publish on Tues 22nd its initial findings into whether BAA should be broken up. The long-awaited report could spell the end of BAA’s monopoly control in the South East and potentially lead to a sale of Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted. BA is thought to want the commission to force the sale of Stansted. Virgin and bmi have proposed that Gatwick should be sold. (Times)
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British Airways abandons long-haul flights from Manchester
BA has dropped its last long-haul flight from a regional airport as it concentrates its international efforts on the South East of England. The cancellation of the service between Manchester and New York has angered businessmen and politicians. BA has scaled back its international and European operations from regional airports such as Manchester and Glasgow in favour of more profitable long-haul routes from Heathrow and Gatwick. (Times)
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Stansted – Residents get to grips with what half a million planes a year overhead would mean
The reality of the prospect of being overflown by half a million planes a year using a 2-runway Stansted was brought home when representatives from 4 villages at the end of the proposed second runway joined their counterparts in Great Hallingbury. On average, the second runway plans mean that each day there would be 678 arrivals AND landings (ie 1356 total per day, compared with c 570 total at present). (Stop Stansted Expansion)
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Sir Nicholas Stern takes bleaker view on global warming
The internationally influential Stern report on climate change underestimated the risks of global warming and should have presented an even bleaker view of the future, according to its own author. He said he should have taken a much stronger stance in the report on the drastic consequences of failing to curb global warming, and defended his estimate of the cost of taking action on emissions as being about 1% of global GDP. (Financial Times)
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Fly long-haul – to countries such as South Africa and Thailand – for the best value on holiday as pound falls in value against the euro
Far-flung destinations such as South Africa and Thailand are offering even better value for holidaymakers than many traditional European hotspots, a survey by the Post Office has revealed. Travellers to destinations on the Continent are being hit in the pocket as the pound falls in value against the euro. Thailand, South Africa and Egypt were the best value. (Daily Mail)
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Flightpath threat to racehorse breeding
The home of British racing - Newmarket - could lose its breeding industry if aircraft are stacked over the skies of west Suffolk, it was claimed. NATS's proposed changes to air traffic routes over Suffolk and Cambridgeshire include the creation of three new "holds". One of these holds is just south of Newmarket and breeders there fear persistent noise would affect animals and staff and so owners take their animals elsewhere. (Suffolk & Essex online)
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St Pancras International lures 2m more passengers to Eurostar
The opening of St Pancras International station and the high-speed link through southern England have have increased Eurostar traffic. Eurostar said 2.17 million customers travelled between London, Paris and Brussels in the first three months of the year - an increase of more than 21.3% on the same period in 2007. There has been a near doubling of passengers from places such as York and the east Midlands. (Guardian)
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Heathrow -T5 flight transfers could take until October
Willie Walsh, British Airways chief executive, said on Monday it could take until the autumn for the airline to complete the transfer of its long-haul services from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport. It was possible that the transfer of about 120 long-haul flights to T5 would not be finished until October. (Financial Times)
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Oil price increases to new record
The price of oil has hit a new record on the back of supply worries after bad weather hit Mexican oil exports. US light, sweet crude oil rose 72 cents to $112.48 a barrel, above the previous record of $112.21. Brent crude rose 41 cents to $110.25 a barrel in London. A surprise fall in Russian oil output in the first part of the year has raised fears over the ability of global supply to keep pace with demand over the next decade. (BBC)
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Llanbedr – (Snowdonia)Park airport ‘pollution threat’
An environmental charity - the Snowdonia Society - has objected to plans to open a commercial airport within Snowdonia National Park. The former military airfield at Llanbedr near Harlech, Gwynedd, is being taken over on a 125 year lease. The Snowdonia Society has written to the First Minister about their concerns of "pollution and a threat to tourism". (BBC
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NATS – Air bosses challenged to meeting in Suffolk
NATS bosses are being challenged to a face-to-face meeting to discuss proposals to send hundreds more noisy planes over parts of rural Suffolk. Under proposals for changes to airspace, new holding stacks for Stansted airport will be set up between Ipswich and Stowmarket, and south of Newmarket. A spokesman for NATS said it was not their policy to meet with residents or attend public meetings. (Evening Star)
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Plane Stupid Scotland occupy roof of Scottish Parliament
Two environmental activists from Plane Stupid Scotland, have climbed onto the roof of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to protest against plans for expansion of Scottish airports. They got on to the roof of the Parliament at about 9am and unfurled a large banner which carries a parody of the Trainspotting design, "Choose Life." The banner reads, "Plane Stopping: Choose the future. Say no to airport expansion." (Plane Stupid)
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Newcastle – Wind farms risk airport growth
Airport bosses are to demand the Government introduces stricter planning rules which would force wind farm developers to consider radar concerns when applying to build turbines. The airport, the Ministry of Defence and air traffic control bosses objected to the proposals, saying the turbines show up on radar, with the resulting safety concerns severely limiting flightpath expansion. (Newcastle Journal)
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Heathrow plans crash zone for runway three on M25 motorway
Plans for a 3rd runway at Heathrow flout safety guidelines by placing a proposed crash-landing zone on top of a motorway junction (M25/M4). The DfT has been advised to create ways of avoiding traffic jams on the junction, to reduce the risk in a hypothetical plane crash. Ruth Kelly failed to publish maps showing that the M25/M4 is within the safety zone. (Sunday Times)
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Nottingham East Midlands – Climate change protest at airport
Dozens of people dressed as PM Gordon Brown have protested against climate change issues at East Midlands Airport. East Midlands FoE wants the government's new Climate Change Bill to include carbon emissions for the aviation industry. FoE's Callie Lister said it was "crazy to leave out emissions from planes and ships". As planes flew over East Midlands Airport, the protesters covered their eyes "hoping emissions would just go away". (BBC)
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Heathrow – BA postpones long-haul move to T5
British Airways has delayed moving most of its long-haul flights to Heathrow's new Terminal 5 until June. The new £4.3bn terminal has been plagued by problems, especially with its baggage handling, since it opened. Almost all of BA's long-haul flights were supposed to switch from Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 on 30 April. The delay in moving will have a knock-on effect on other airlines. (BBC)
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Stobart and council agree airport deal
The Stobart haulage empire looks set to stay in Cumbria after agreement was reached on a plan to develop Carlisle Airport. Company boss, Andrew Tinkler, and Carlisle City Council leader Mike Mitchelson shook hands on a revised list of conditions for the plan. The proposal will now go back in front of the council's planning committee on April 25, before being sent to the government for final approval. (Cumbria News & Star)
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International aviation emissions now firmly on the post-Kyoto climate talks agenda
An attempt by the European Union, supported by nations such as Norway and New Zealand, to include aviation GHG emissions in an international climate change agreement when the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012 met with resistance from some developing countries at last week’s UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) climate change talks in Bangkok. (GreenAir news)
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Birmingham – If we don’t increase emissions someone else will, and benefit
The debate over whether to extend the runway at BIA - which would increase traffic and let direct flights from east Asia and the west coast of the US land there - has erupted into an argument over whether economic or environmental considerations should hold sway. Opponents of restrictions at BIA say the only effect of holding back development would be to force the highly fluid demand and supply for flights to other airports. (Birmingham Post)
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Oasis fourth carrier to fold in a fortnight
Hong Kong-based low-cost airline Oasis has gone into liquidation, cancelling all of its flights. Oasis launched in October 2006, flying daily from London Gatwick to Hong Kong, and then added flights from Hong Kong to Vancouver. Three US carriers have all ceased operations in the last fortnight - ATA Airlines, Aloha Airgroup and Skybus Airlines. (TravelMole)
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Passengers numbers nosedive at Coventry
Coventry Airport's passenger numbers have almost halved in the past year, according to new figures. They fell by 46% in January compared with the same month last year, following reductions of 42% in December and 46% in November. January had 18,099 passengers using the terminal - down from 33,722 in January 2007. (Leamington Spa Courier)
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Credit crisis forces BAA to delay refinancing
BAA has been forced to delay its planned £10bn refinancing. The owner of seven British airports - acquired in 2006 for £16.3bn - said only last month it planned to complete the refinancing by the end of June. Now it expects completion "early in the third quarter of 2008". (Telegraph)
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Government’s environment policy is ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ – Windsor & Maidenhead leader highlights ‘green carbon con’
The CO2 and 2M groups are pointing out that all 15 eco-towns planned by the government will save tiny amounts of carbon emissions in comparison with the increase in pollution from two new runways at Stansted and Heathrow. The extra carbon created by the use of a second runway at Stansted would be as much as that produced by 1,154,032 average homes every year, in contradiction to the government's claims to be going green. (Windsor & Maidenhead, for CO2)
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2M group reaches 4 million
The 2M group of local councils opposed to Heathrow expansion has now doubled in size following a surge in membership among London boroughs. The most recent councils to join are Brent, Harrow, Lewisham, Southwark and Sutton. The group now represents a combined population of 4 million people. (2M)
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SSE helps communities to get to grips with 2nd runway application at 40+ community meetings
More than 40 community presentations have been lined up for the coming months by Stop Stansted Expansion to help people get to grips with proposals for a 2nd runway at Stansted and to explain how to lodge objections. SSE has agreed to speak at parish and town council meetings across Essex, Hertfordshire and Suffolk as part of its drive to alert local communities to the threat. (SSE)
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Carlisle airport – Stobart and council edge towards city airport deal
Crisis talks aimed at keeping haulage giant Eddie Stobart in Cumbria have been described as a "big step forward" by both parties involved. Speaking after leaving the meeting at his WA Developments base at Kingstown, Mr Tinkler said the plan to develop Carlisle airport and move his business empire there now rested on hammering out 10 issues where agreement has not yet been reached. (Cumbria News & Star)
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Birmingham Airport expansion ‘will cancel out green policy’
Birmingham's ambitious plans to slash its carbon emissions will be negated by the expansion of the city's airport, the man spearheading the green drive has admitted. But Councillor Paul Tilsley said it would be "economic suicide" if the growth of Birmingham International Airport, which is part-owned by the city council, was obstructed. (Birmingham Post)
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Ferry boost ‘from airport delays’
Airport taxes and delays have led motoring tourists to return to ferries "in their thousands", according to Dover Harbour Board. The board said tourist car journeys reached nearly 2.84m last year - the highest annual total since 1999 - airport taxes and delays had reduced the appeal of short-haul flights in favour of drive-and-sail holidays. (BBC)
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Spy caught by anti-aviation group was ‘more Austin Powers than 007’
A spy who infiltrated Plane Stupid has been exposed after making a series of elementary errors that aroused the suspicions of genuine activists. Toby Kendall joined Plane Stupid after graduating from Oxford last year, but he in fact works for C2i International, a counter-intelligence company run by former special forces officers. (Times)
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Climate target is not radical enough – study
Nasa scientist, Dr James Hansen, warns the world must urgently make huge CO2 reductions. He warned that the EU and its international partners must urgently rethink targets for cutting CO2 in the atmosphere because of fears they have grossly underestimated the scale of the problem. The EU target of 550 ppm C02 should be slashed to 350ppm. (Guardian)
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Weds 16th April, North Somerset Council Area Planning Meeting on BIA “Walkway” delayed to May
North Somerset Council has delayed the South Area Committee Meeting to be held on 16th April, which is to make the decision on the BIA Walkway, a permitted development application. The meeting will be held in mid-May, probably Wednesday 14th May, but this date is to be confirmed. (Stop BIA)
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Plymouth Airport runway deal agreed
The deal which will see one of Plymouth City Airport's runways closed and part of the airport land sold off for development has been agreed between the city council and Sutton Harbour Group. Sutton Harbour Group said last year it wanted to exercise a clause in its lease which allows it to sell off one runway and redevelop the land to reinvest in the airport. (UK Airport News)
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Exeter Airport one of UK’s fastest growing
Exeter Airport is one of the fastest growing airports in the UK, according to CAA figures. The data reveals a growth of more than 200% in the 5 years from 2002 to 2007. A total of 1,012,000 passengers used Exeter airport in 2007. Exeter's 5-year growth, at 200.9%, was faster than its local rivals. Bristol grew by 72.3% and Plymouth by just 3.2%. (UK Airport News)
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Lincoln – paper plane stunt to highlight climate change
Hundreds of paper aeroplanes have been handed out in Lincoln's High Street by a man dressed as Gordon Brown. The stunt, by Lincoln's FoE, was intended to highlight the effects of aviation on climate change. The planes given out were each emblazoned with the word 'missing', because campaigners say the effects of aviation pollution are missing from the new climate change bill which is set to become law later this year. (This is Lincolnshire)
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Heathrow – New chaos hits Terminal 5
BA had hoped to operate a 'full flying schedule' for the first time since the terminal's opening debacle 10 days ago. Then, glitches with the new baggage handling system led to almost 250 flights being cancelled in the first 4 days, and a luggage mountain of 28,000 bags that missed flights. At least 9,000 bags have still not been reunited with their owners. The problems are estimated to have cost the airline about £16m so far. (Observer)
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Meeting on Birmingham Airport expansion
Those living near Birmingham Airport aired their views over the proposed runway extension at a public meeting this week. The controversial £1 billion plan to extend the runway by 405 metres towards Bickenhill and Hampton-in-Arden could see up to 17,000 extra flights a year and perhaps 2000 jobs. At a meeting organised by Birmingham FoE and BANG, some residents used the opportunity to express their fears over the plans. (UK Airport News)
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Second Stansted runway would be ‘catastrophic’
A second runway at Stansted Airport would be ‘catastrophic’ and only achieved through the ‘wholesale destruction’ of the countryside, a meeting held by anti-expansion campaigners Stop Stansted Expansion was told. BAA's £2.5billion scheme, which includes a second terminal, hotel and new control tower, would occupy 442 hectares of land and mean the loss of 13 listed buildings, and accept slightly more passengers that at Heathrow now. (UK Airport News)
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Heathrow – British Airways puts bill for T5 chaos last week at £16m
BA gave investors fresh cause for worry after it revealed that it lost £16m due to last week's disastrous opening of Terminal Five and that its all-important premium traffic fell sharply last month. While T5 seems to be slowly working out the kinks, shareholders will be more concerned by a 5% drop in premium traffic for the carrier in March compared to the same month a year ago. (Independent)
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Edinburgh Airport – Climate change campaigners plan airport protest over Bill
Environmental campaigners will target Edinburgh Airport on Saturday to highlight the growing problem of carbon dioxide emissions from the aviation industry. The Edinburgh branches of the WDM and FoE are holding the protest as part of a bid to get the Government to include international aviation emissions in a new Climate Change Bill. (Edinburgh Evening News)
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Tim Yeo MP warns of noise from Stansted expansion
Villages will have their peace shattered by aircraft noise if Stansted Airport expands further, a local MP has warned. Tim Yeo, Conservative MP for Suffolk South, expressed his 'unqualified opposition to the continued growth of Stansted Airport,' and said that under the NATS proposed flight paths changes, residents of communities such as Lavenham, Thorpe Morieux, and many others would have their peace shattered by aircraft noise. (UK Airport News)
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Belfast City Airport to submit runway plans
Belfast City Airport told the Belfast Telegraph that they were aiming to lodge the application to extend their runway in the ‘second quarter’ of this year. There is speculation that the application could be made as soon as next month. The news comes at press reports suggest that the airport might be for sale. (UK Airport News)
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Tories change course to fight expansion at Heathrow
The Conservatives today announced that they were opposed to the further expansion of Heathrow airport. In a significant hardening of the party line, shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said the case for a third runway had not been made. She said the Government should look at alternatives such as greater use of high-speed rail links. (Evening Standard)
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Budget airline Flybe wanted actors to fill empty seats to avoid penalty charges
A budget airline advertised for actors to pose as passengers in an attempt to avoid a £280,000 commercial penalty for having too many empty seats. Flybe also laid on extra flights, offered the public free trips and placed its own staff on stand-by to fly in case seats were not filled. They took the "unusual" steps after failing to reach agreement with officials at Norwich International Airport. (Daily Mail)
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Heathrow Terminal 5 – Second day of baggage chaos
Further chaos is expected at Heathrow's Terminal 5 after its opening day was marred by a catalogue of errors which left many stranded overnight. So far, more than 30 departures have been cancelled, queues are building and frustrated passengers have missed flights. In addition, some of Saturday's flights are expected to be cancelled. (BBC)
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Oxford airport’s business aviation centre on course for summer launch
Businesses in the Oxford-Milton Keynes-Northampton arc are promised greatly improved transport linkages when Oxford Airport completes construction of a brand new business aviation centre this summer. The new facility replaces the existing general aviation facility. (Business Weekly)
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Heathrow Terminal 5 launch marred by delays and cancellations [and Flashmob]
The opening of Heathrow's new Terminal 5 was marred today as baggage problems forced British Airways to cancel 34 flights in and out of the £4.3bn terminal and passengers suffered waits of up to 2 hours for their luggage. The arrivals lounge was also brought to a standstill as a flash-mob, wearing "Stop Airport Expansion" of 250 environmental campaigners descended on the terminal. (Guardian)
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The DEMAND Campaign launches a Downing Street e-petition against Night Flights at East Midlands Airport
Steve Charlish, Chairman "DEMAND" (Demand East Midlands Airport is Now Designated) said "We are asking the Prime Minister to limit night flying at EMA, and are asking that the restrictions already applicable to the big three London Airports Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, are applied at EMA. East Midlands Airport has been allowed massive expansion of night flights which exceed acceptable levels to the local community. (DEMAND press release)
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Scientists warn of soot effect on climate
Soot produced by burning coal, diesel, wood and dung causes significantly more damage to the environment than previously thought, according to research published today. So-called "black carbon" could cause up to 60% of the current warming effect of CO2, according to the US researchers, making it an important target for efforts to slow global warming. (Guardian)
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Wales – Call for North-South flights’ true cost to public
Officials have no idea how many passengers on the North-South air service are getting their travel costs paid by the public. One AM (Assembly Member) said yesterday it was important to record how many users of the flights between Anglesey and Cardiff were civil servants, councillors,and others from the public sector. (Western Mail - Wales)
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‘Jet-setting’ government clocked up 300 million air miles last year
Ministers were accused of hypocrisy and extravagance after the Conservatives calculated that Whitehall departments and major public bodies clocked up more than 300 million "air miles" last year. The Tories said the flights would have been enough to take politicians and civil servants to the moon 1,280 times or make 12,240 journeys around the world. (Independent)
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Air support for Africa’s organic farms
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, which make millions of pounds from flying food in passenger jets, are joining forces with African farmers to fight environmental restrictions on food transported by air. They have given free tickets to representatives of farmers in Ghana and Kenya to visit London to argue their case to the Soil Association. (Times)
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Who needs Terminal 5 or bigger and better runways? Oh to be a second-class European backwater . . .
Terminal 5, said Nigel Rudd (BAA Chairman), would keep us at the forefront of aviation; it would enable us to retain our status as a world-class business centre and, well, did we want to be a first-class nation or a second-class one? "Second class will do very nicely thanks," I found myself replying. (Guardian Comment)
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How the blurring of the seasons is a harbinger of climate calamity
Spring is starting to dissolve as a distinct season as climate change takes hold. According to documented observations throughout 2007 and 2008, events in the natural world that used to be key spring indicators, from the blooming of flowers to the appearance of insects, are now increasingly happening in what used to be thought of as mid-winter. (Independent)
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ICAO appoints 17 countries to new High-level Group to hammer out important policy issues on aviation MBMs
Ryanair is going nose to nose with Europe's largest and most successful high-speed railway system. They announced that it was starting cheap flights in May from Beauvais airport, 50 miles north-west of Paris, to Marseilles. Ryanair will also try to break into the German domestic market for the first time with flights between Frankfurt and Berlin. (Independent)
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Advertising Standards Authority ruling on an advert by EnoughsEnough and AirportWatch
The Advertising Standards Authority has banned a national press ad for Airport Watch and Enoughsenough.org, two pressure groups in favour of reducing the number of flights taken by UK citizens, because their statistics about climate change were not officially recognised. The ad showed a photograph of a woman and a child standing on land covered in cattle carcasses with a plane and several vapour trails in the sky. (Brand Republic)
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BIA runway extension ‘could bring in almost £1bn’
Birmingham International Airport "will" generate an income of almost £1 billion a year by 2030 if the main runway is extended. The amount is more than three times as great as last year's £272 million figure, according to research by the city council, and the number of jobs at the airport by 2030 may almost double. (Birmingham Post)
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Outrage over airlines’ empty ‘ghost flights’
British Airways flew three long-haul services between London, Hong Kong and Mumbai last week, with no passengers on board. It is estimated that this produced the equivalent amount of CO2 to that emitted by 200 to 300 motorists in a year. Tim Johnson, the director of the Aviation Environmental Federation, said the current system of levying air-passenger duty provided a "perverse incentive" for aircraft to fly empty. (Independent)
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“CO2” Councils opposing 2nd runway join with 2M Group to fight unsustainable airport expansion
Councils representing over six million people will be joining together to state their opposition to new airport runways at Stansted and Heathrow and unacceptable environment impacts on their communities. The event will also mark the formation the new ‘CO2’ or ‘Councils Opposing a 2nd Runway’ at Stansted campaign and its leaders will be joining forces with the leaders of the ‘2M Group’ of London councils. (Council press release)
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