SASIG 2012/13 Meeting DatesThursday 14 June 2012 The Aviation Minister, Theresa Villiers, shall be attending.
Friday 9 November 2012
Friday 1 March 2013
28 April – 4 May 2012 Parliamentary and Government News
Government News
Justine Greening promises action on air capacity
Speaking at an easyJet reception in Westminster, the Transport Secretary said: “We know there is a problem with air capacity in the South East and we intend to address it quickly.”
Damien Green responds to an Urgent Question on immigration queues at UK airports
Immigration minister Damian Green said that the Border Force would increase their capacity at airports in the run up to the Summer.
Mr Green cited figures demonstrating that 99 per cent of UK and EU citizens passed through the borders within 25 minutes and promised that the Government would work with airlines to ensure that they cooperated with airports over landing times.
Chris Bryant responds to an Urgent Question on immigration queues at UK airports
Shadow Home Office Minister Chris Bryant said that the Border Force needed more funding after missing its targets on 13 out of 15 days over Easter.
Weather blamed for Heathrow Airport immigration queues
Immigration minister Damian Green insisted that delays had been caused by “the severe weather, leading to flight diversions and changing flight schedules.”
Heathrow Airport given 80 staff despite 900 staff cuts across UK
Nearly 900 Border Force posts, equivalent to 10 per cent of staff, have been scrapped over the past two years. The scale of the cuts emerged as Damian Green, the Immigration minister, announced that 80 extra staff were being drafted in to Heathrow.
Immigration staff announce plans to strike
The Immigration Services Union, which represents 4,500 border guards nationwide will notify the Cabinet Office that it intends to stage industrial action on 10 May 2012 in a row over pensions.
Official waiting time figures reveal scale of Heathrow chaos
One in four of all non-European passengers arriving at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 during April had to wait longer than the target time of 45 minutes to get through passport control, according to official airport figures.
House of Commons Questions
Ownership of take-off and landing slots at London airports and the referral of the practice to the Competition Commission – Goldsmith, Z
Review of plans for a third runway at Heathrow – Johnson, G
Deployment of operational freedoms at Heathrow – Goldsmith, Z
Services to Brussels, Copenhagen and Zurich from Edinburgh Airport – Lazarowicz, M
Continuity of routes served by BMI – Lazarowicz, M
Assessment of the effect of BMI routes between Belfast city and Heathrow following International Airlines Group takeover – Long, N
Discussions with China about the EU Emissions Trading Scheme – Fitzpatrick, J
Aviation exhaust emissions – Goldsmith, Z
EU Emissions Trading Scheme effect on the manufacturing industry – Tami, M
House of Lords Questions
Baroness Valentine – Variation of air passenger duty in the UK
Lord Birt – Reduction of waiting times at Heathrow airport
Lord Bates – Major infrastructure investment announced since May 2010
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5 – 11 May 2012 Parliamentary and Government News
Government News
Defra pledges £2 million to support the air quality grant programme
Eligibility for the grant will be limited to English local authorities with one or more Air Quality Management Areas for NO2 or those authorities where the Government’s national air quality assessment in 2010 identified a high level of NO2 emissions in their area.
Queen’s Speech
The Government has confirmed that High Speed Rail (HS2) will go ahead, despite its omission in the Queen’s speech.
Heathrow growth is finished, insists minister
The Transport Secretary, Justine Greening, conclusively ruled out any prospect of increasing flights at Heathrow and would not consider the introduction of the “mixed-mode” technique to enable aircraft to land and take off from both Heathrow runways.
Boris Johnson calls on Government to build a new London airport
Boris Johnson has called on the Government to build a new airport in the Thames Estuary. He conceded that “the Government is yet to be persuaded” despite pre-election suggestions that Mr Cameron would offer his provisional support for the scheme.
International Airlines Group chief Willie Walsh will not take part in aviation consultation
Willie Walsh, the boss of International Airlines Group, has said he will not be engaging in the coalition’s consultation on the future of Britain’s airports because the government “has no idea what it is talking about”.
Aviation All-Party Parliamentary Group
The first of two oral evidence sessions for the Aviation All Party Group’s inquiry into the competitiveness of UK aviation will be held at 1.00-3.30pm on Wednesday 16th May in Committee Room 17 in the House of Commons.
Non-governmental Organisation Press Releases
Airport Operators Association – UK airports urge parliamentary inquiry to lobby for lower aviation taxes and better international connectivity
The Airport Operators Association (AOA) has submitted its response to the Aviation All Party Parliamentary Group’s inquiry into the competitiveness of the UK aviation sector.
British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) gives tentative welcome to bmi Regional purchase
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) has given a tentative welcome to the news that bmi Regional has been sold to a Scottish consortium, Sector Aviation Holdings.
House of Commons Statements
The future of RAF Northolt
Gareth Thomas MP, (Lab; Harrow West): I encourage the Leader of the House, as a former Transport Secretary, to seek the support of his successor for a debate on airport capacity in the south-east. I ask that in the context of speculation about the future of RAF Northolt, which is adjacent to my constituency and whose flight paths go across it. There has been much speculation about a substantial increase in business jet usage of RAF Northolt, about which many of my constituents are understandably concerned, so they would want to participate in the broader debate on that issue.
Sir George Young, (Leader of the House of Commons): If the hon. Gentleman is ingenious, he may be able to raise the issue when we deal with the remaining stages of the Civil Aviation Bill, when there will be a two-hour debate. Subject to what the occupant of the Chair decides, it may be possible to raise the issue of Northolt during that debate; I will certainly forewarn the Minister replying to it that she is likely to get this matter coming in to land.
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12 – 18 May 2012 Parliamentary and Government News
Government News
Peers urge ministers to back Heathrow third runway
Lord Tugendhat and former aviation minister, Lord Spicer both warned of the economic consequences of refusing to expand airport capacity. Labour peer Lord Soley also said a third runway would cost the public nothing and “add about £8 billion to the GDP of this country”.
Government accused of lack of vision by aviation experts
The UK government’s lack of strategy and long-term planning for the country’s aviation infrastructure has been criticised by a panel of senior aviation experts at the Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC) conference.
Business leaders demand meeting with Prime Minister over aviation strategy
In an open letter signed by representatives from the British Air Transport Association, the Board of Airline Representatives, London and Regional Properties, the Tourism Alliance, and the Travel Weekly Group, the business executives have demanded a meeting about the government’s failure to establish a viable aviation strategy.
Pilots infringing Olympics Restricted and Prohibited security airspace zones to have licences suspended
Licences of all pilots infringing either the Restricted or Prohibited Zone will be suspended pending an investigation of the incident.
Boris Johnson warns the Government not support Heathrow expansion
London Mayor Boris Johnson warned the Government faced, “the most terrific shock and waste an awful lot of time.” If Heathrow expansion went ahead.
Aviation All-Party Parliamentary Group
First Oral Evidence Session of the Inquiry witnesses:
The Group heard from Andy Meany, Oxera; Kyran Hanks, Gatwick Airport; Mark Tanzer, Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA); Tom King, British Airways (BA); Ian Jopson, Sustain
MPs ask industry for ‘solid data’ on air passenger duty and Heathrow, MPs tell industry
Aviation-supporting MPs in the All-Party Aviation Group have told the industry it needs to provide solid data on the effects of Air Passenger Duty (APD) and capacity constraints at Heathrow if they are to influence the government.
House of Commons Questions
Air passenger duty effect on inhibiting business access in Northern Ireland – McDonnell, A – 16 May 2012
Expansion of Belfast Airport and air links to Belfast – Syms, R – 16 May 2012
Reduction of air passenger duty in Northern Ireland – Shannon, J – 16 May 2012
House of Lords Questions
Publication of the consultation on aviation policy – Lord Spicer, 14 May 2012
Estimated revenue generated by a transit flight into London airports and their associated costs – Lord Laird – 15 May 2012
House of Commons Statements
Justine Greening (Secretary of State for Transport) Mandatory airport charges conditions for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports
The Civil Aviation Bill is proposing to remove the Competition Commission reference from the price review process permanently and replace it with a licensing and appeals regime. This will enable proportionate and accountable regulation, and will give airlines and airports a new right of appeal which the aviation sector have not had before.
A published letter to industry setting out Ms Greening’s response to the issues raised in the informal consultation between 19 January and 29 February 2012 can be found here.
Theresa Villiers (Transport Minister) Operational freedoms at Heathrow Airport
The trial will not increase the number of flights at Heathrow which remains capped at current levels. The CAA has published its final report on phase one, alongside a report by BAA, assessing the impact on operations at the airport and on communities around Heathrow.
Following advice from the CAA, a six month extension of phase two has been agreed and will now run from July 2012 to March 2013.
Westminster Committees
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee – Aviation links between Belfast and Heathrow
The Committee heard from Luke Pollard, Head of Public Affairs, Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and Doreen McKenzie, Proprietor, Knock Travel.
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee – Air travel in Northern Ireland
The Committee heard from Nigel Smyth, Director, Confederation of British Industry Northern Ireland and Matt Sheldon, Senior Policy Advisor, Confederation of British Industry.
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19 – 25 May 2012 Parliamentary and Government News
Government News
BAA Ltd gets green light to lobby for third runway at Heathrow
BAA Ltd will be able to lobby for a third runway at Heathrow during consultation on how to preserve the UK’s status as a leading aviation hub, transport minister Theresa Villiers has confirmed. She reiterated the government’s opposition to expansion of Heathrow but said the airport’s operator could lobby for a change of policy. Ms Villiers added, “The commercial interest of BAA is one thing – it’s not necessarily the same as the economic needs of the overall economy.”
CAA Publishes Next Phase Of Price Control Process
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published a Policy Update in the process to set the economic regulation of airports after March 2014. Economic regulation of airports is only required where competition is not sufficiently strong to further the interests of passengers. Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports are currently subject to CAA economic regulation.
Border Agency Director General tells MPs that four hour airport queues ‘can’t be ruled out’ during the Olympics
Brian Moore, director general of the Border Agency has told MPs that although he believes staffing levels will be able to deal with an anticipated surge of arrivals, he could not guarantee there would be no delays. Mr Moore repeatedly declined to tell the Commons Home Affairs Committee what he believed to be a ‘reasonable’ wait at immigration but claimed travellers accepted a time of around 25 minutes.
Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick Airports ‘need extra runways’
London’s three main airports may all need new runways to meet demand in future decades claims a report by Spelthorne MP Kwasi Kwarteng. The Case for Aviation claims that at least one new runway is needed for three airports by 2020. Mr Kwarteng MP backs a third runway at Heathrow and is also open to the idea of a “Boris island” airport in the Thames Estuary. He also proposes that Heathrow’s third runway could be the existing runway at RAF Northolt; identifying that airports such as Amsterdam’s Schiphol have runways several miles from the control tower.
Carbon cutting local transport schemes given £113 million boost
30 carbon cutting projects have won funding totalling £113 million as part of the second allocation from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. They are led by 29 English local authorities with many more as partners and cover eight regions. All projects are designed to create a sustainable transport package that delivers economic growth and reduces carbon emissions.
House of Lords Questions
Decline of flight departures from London airports over the next five years- Lord Laird – 23 May 2012
Proposals for the implementation of new flight time limitation rules – Lord Empey- 23 May 2012
Aviation All-Party Parliamentary Group
Association of British Travel Agents calls for review of air passenger duty impact and extra runway capacity in South East
Mark Tanzer ABTA Chief Executive, spoke today before the All Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Aviation setting out the main points in ABTA’s written response to the APPG. Mr Tanzer called on the Treasury to commission an independent analysis of the impact of Air Passenger Duty (APD) on the UK economy and to reconsider its decision to rule out additional runways elsewhere in the South East after its categorical refusal to allow construction of a third runway at Heathrow.
Debates and legislation
Commons Third Reading – Civil Aviation Bill
Debate on whether the Bill is to make provisions about the regulation of operators of dominant airports, and confer functions on the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) under competition legislation in relation to services provided at airports.
Events and Speeches
Department for Transport and BAA Ltd discuss need to address sustainability issues and noise mitigation in aviation policy framework Airport Operators Association (AOA) Environment Conference
Kate Jennings, Head of Aviation Policy Implementation at the Department for Transport said the government recognised that solving the noise debate was a difficult issue but wanted to find constructive solutions. Ms Jennings added that airport noise contours – the noise footprint – were useful but didn’t necessarily reflect public perception on the ground, although the level of complaints is coming down. Ms Jennings supported a framework that encouraged debate and effective engagement with local communities. She added that the government was keen to explore how compensation schemes for residents affected by noise could be better targeted and measured.
Matt Gorman, BAA Ltd Sustainability Director said BAA Ltd had a major strategic work programme underway this year to address noise issues at Heathrow including;
- a project in conjunction with NATS and environmental campaign groups Aviation Environment Federation and Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN) about the predictability of noise;
- developing a roadmap as part of the recently-launched Heathrow Sustainability Partnership, aiming to enhance the airport’s economic and social benefits while reducing its environmental impacts; and
- the development of a website called Heathrow Airthought (heathrowairthought.com) to share ideas on what the airport can do to protect the environment and support local communities.
Westminster Committees
Transport Select Committee – The Government’s plans for transport during the Olympics – Control of Heathrow’s landing slots
The Committee heard from Hugh Sumner, Director of Transport, Olympic Delivery Authority; Richard George, Director of Transport, London Organising Committee of the Olympics Games; and Justine Greening, Transport Secretary
Transport Select Committee – The Government’s plans for transport during the Olympics – Capacity at Heathrow
The Committee heard from Andy Garner, Director, London 2012, BAA Ltd; Robin Gisby, Managing Director, Network Operations, Network Rail; and Peter Hendy CBE, Commissioner of Transport, Transport for London
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee – Air Transport Strategy for Northern Ireland and acquisition of BMI by BA Ltd
The Committee heard from David McMurray, regional industrial officer for Belfast, Unite; Angela Kelly, Catherine Horgan and Paula Spiers Unite shop steward (BMI).
House of Commons Questions
Time taken to enter the UK through Heathrow airport – Soames, N, 21 May 2012
Boarder Agency cuts – Bryan, C – 21 May 2012
Plans to respond to the recommendations on international aviation and shipping carbon emissions – Eagle, M – 21 May 2012
Meetings on High Speed Rail link between Heathrow Airport and RAF Northolt – Thomas, G – 21 May 2012
Steps to implement international aviation and shipping carbon emission recommendations – Eagle, M – 21 May 2012
Number of staff in the Department for Transport working on reducing transport’s contribution to UK greenhouse gas emissions – Eagle, M – 22 May 2012
Government meetings on the Thames Estuary Airport – Thomas, G – 24 May 2012
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26 May – 1 June 2012 Parliamentary and Government News
Government News
Boris Johnson claims the government is tip-toeing back to third runway
Boris Johnson accused the government of trying to kick a decision about a new airport into “the long grass” until past the next election while the coalition leadership tried to “appease their ideological environmental wing” of both parties. He stated, “They want to keep every ball in the air until past 2015. That’s the strategy as far as I understand it.” Mr Johnson has urged the government to discard the coalition agreement and consider expanding at Stansted or Gatwick as a 15 to 20 year interim solution ahead of any new airport built in the South East.
British Airways Ltd demands EU ‘reduce scope’ of emissions trading
British Airways Ltd (BA Ltd) has demanded the European Union restrict the emissions trading scheme (ETS) for airlines to European airspace to head off growing opposition from non EU-governments and carriers. BA Ltd head of environment Jonathon Counsell said: “There is a high risk of non-compliance and retaliation and we have to find a way through.
Ministerial Announcements
DfT – Passengers views sought on new rail franchise for London and the South
Passengers across London, the South East, Sussex and the South Coast are being asked for their views to help shape a major new franchise for train services across their area, Rail Minister Theresa Villiers has announce.
Theresa Villiers said:
“This new franchise will be a key part of public transport in London and the South of England. Before we set the terms of the franchise and choose who will operate it, we want to hear a wide range of views on the services passengers want.
“We are also seeking views on how to maximise the benefits of the Thameslink upgrade and how they should be shared between different communities along the line.
“This consultation outlines a number of standards we expect any new operator to deliver as a matter of course, including improvements to stations, better ticket-buying facilities and passenger information and good levels of punctuality. But we also want passengers, and anyone else with an interest in improving the railways, to tell us about other ways in which they think services could be better.”
The combined franchise is due to start in September 2013 and run for a minimum of seven years. The consultation commences on 31 May 2012 and closes on 23 August 2012.
House of Lords Questions
Assessments made of night flights at Heathrow – Baroness Kramer, 28 May 2012
Decreasing number of flight departures from London airports over the next five years – Lord Laird , 23 May 2012