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 Regional and Industry News
Regional News
EasyJet call for second runway at Stansted
EasyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall has urged the Government to think again on aviation expansion in the South East.
Birmingham Airport to commence flights to China
Birmingham Airport has announced plans for new services to China once a runway extension is completed at the airport. The extension is scheduled for completion in 2014.
Airlines ready to pay landing fees to end Heathrow delays
Airlines using Heathrow airport would be prepared to pay higher landing fees to reduce long queues, according to the chief executive of International Airports Group.
EasyJet claims Luton Airport’s image deters fliers
EasyJet has claimed that Luton airport is being held back by its reputation and airport managers need to address its poor reputation before it can reach targets of 18 million passengers by 2020.
Gatwick Airport aims to rival Heathrow with Air China deal
Gatwick Airport has announced a deal with Air China over direct flights to Beijing. Air China will operate four direct flights a week between Gatwick and Beijing.
Former Newcastle Airport boss John Parkin accused of misleading airport committee to ‘pocket millions’
John Parkin was suspended as chief executive after it emerged a £6m bonus was paid to him for organising a mortgage for the airport worth more than £325m in 2006. Mr Parkin, now chief executive of Leeds Bradford Airport, has given evidence during a legal battle between Newcastle Airport and Eversheds, the law firm that advised the deal.
Industry News
Fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliners to drive British Airway’s growth in Asia
Chief executive of International Airlines Group Willie Walsh claims the new Dreamliner, will boost British trade with emerging economies. 25 percent of the Boeing 787 aircraft is built in the UK, boosting British manufacturing.
Flybe makes move on BMI Baby territory
Flybe is expanding its services from East Midlands airport. International Airlines Group (IAG) is trying to find a buyer for BMI Baby but IAG chief executive Willie Walsh is “not confident” of securing a deal. The closure of BMI Baby could result in 470 job losses.
British Airways to restart flights to South Korea
British Airways is using slots acquired from its purchase of BMI to commence six times weekly flights from Heathrow to Seoul after a gap of 14 years.
BMI Baby to be grounded by International Airlines Group
BMI Baby, the budget airline, will be grounded from September, with some routes being stopped from next month, owner IAG has announced.
Airbus and Boeing hit by plane cancellations
Airlines have cancelled a total of 32 orders for planes so far this year, according to data from the world’s two major plane makers
Press Releases
Stop Stansted Expansion – Slowdown in cheap flights gives boost to the British economy
New figures published by the Office of National Statistics show that the British are taking almost 20 per cent fewer overseas holidays compared to three years ago, whilst the number of foreign tourists visiting the UK is virtually unchanged.
Consultations
Proposal to Revise the Public Safety Zones at Stansted Airport
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is updating the existing Public Safety Zones (PSZs) at Stansted Airport, to reflect air traffic forecasts 15 years ahead.
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5 – 11 May 2012 Regional and Industry News
Regional News
Jet2 successful in its Jet2.com Ltd v Blackpool Airport Ltd Court of Appeal
The High Court has agreed that Blackpool Airport did not use all reasonable endeavours to provide a low cost base for Jet2 and therefore has not fulfilled the contract between the two parties.
European Commission report concludes airport body scanners are safe
The European Commission stopped new trials of the scanners in November while concerns they could emit harmful levels of radiation were investigated. The UK Health Protection Agency had claimed the scanners pose a “negligible” health risk.
Prestwick Airport records big fall in passenger numbers
Prestwick Airport, which has been put up for sale by owners Infratil, has seen passenger numbers fall by a third over the past year.
The airport recorded a total of about 140,000 passengers in the first three months of 2012 – compared with almost 214,000 for the same period last year.
Civil Aviation Authority approves new ‘listening squawks’ at two Airports
Frequency Monitoring Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) codes (often referred to as ‘listening out’ squawks) are soon to be allocated for use in the vicinity of Leeds Bradford and East Midlands airports.
Frequency monitoring codes have played a vital role in reducing infringements of controlled airspace (CAS) by enabling air traffic controllers to alert pilots if their aircraft appears to be going to infringe CAS.
Council demands restoration of Tonbridge to Gatwick rail link
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council wants two direct services an hour to Gatwick Airport, removing the need to change at Redhill. The direct link was lost in 2008 when the route was incorporated into the South Central Rail Franchise, now operated by Southern Railway.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said it planned to begin a new franchise consultation later this month.
Airline boss hints at long-haul destinations from Bristol
Successful financial figures for the last six months have led to easyJet’s UK director, Paul Simmons admitting that the airline is considering providing more routes to long-haul destinations.
Viable Group urge council to buy Plymouth City Airport lease
Plymouth Airport Campaign Group, Viable claims its five-year plan could see 500,000 passengers using the airport if owners, Sutton Harbour Holdings Plc (SHH), would sell the lease. Plymouth City Council has said it supports the idea in theory. SHH said they would continue discussions with the council.
Thanet District Council opposes Manston Airport night flights
Scheduled night flights at the airport have been suggested to help increase air capacity in the south east.
In April, transport minister Theresa Villagers suggested Manston could be used to increase airport capacity in the south east of England.
Industry News
Airbus and Boeing hit by plane cancellations
Airlines have cancelled a total of 32 orders for planes so far this year, according to data from the world’s two major plane makers.
Media
The world’s top 100 airports
Heathrow Airport is the world’s third busiest airport in terms of passenger numbers. The data was compiled by Airports Council International for every airport in the world.
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12 – 18 May 2012 Regional and Industry News
Regional News
Protestors say no to Thames Estuary airport
Protesters have gathered outside London’s City Hall to campaign against Boris Johnson’s proposals for a new Thames Estuary airport.
Sir John Elvidge announced as new chairman of Edinburgh Airport
Sir John Elvidge, the former permanent secretary to the Scottish government until 2010, will take up the new role upon the completion of the acquisition on 1 June.
Support builds for new Heathrow rail route plan
Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham Councils are backing a scheme by Wandsworth Council to develop a new direct rail service between Waterloo and Heathrow. The scheme is a key measure to improve surface access to the airport and to ease congestion on the Piccadilly Line.
Heathrow could be reduced to “local” airport
Colin Matthews, the chief executive of BAA, which owns Heathrow, voiced fears that the airport’s demise would cause huge damage to London’s economy. Last month Katja Hall, the CBI’s Chief Policy Director, warned that Britain was in danger of becoming a “branch line” unless it action was taken.
EasyJet recommends improvements at Luton airport
EasyJet has launched what it calls a ‘strategic vision’ for London Luton airport and recommended a number of ways in which the base could be improved, including enhanced infrastructure, better accessibility and a more positive consumer image of Luton. A copy of the report can be found here.
Cardiff Airport Managing Director, Patrick Duffy, resigns
Managing director Patrick Duffy’s departure follows more criticism of the airport’s performance by the first minister on BBC Wales Week In Week Out. The airport has lost nearly a 800,000 passengers since its peak 2007.
Industry News
Virgin Atlantic first UK airline to allow in-flight mobile phone calls
Virgin has become the first UK airline to allow mobile voice calls, with the service limited to 02 and Vodafone customers travelling on board its brand new A330 planes between London and New York.
Press Release
Association of British Travel Agents Calls for Review of APD Impact and Extra Runway Capacity in South East
Mark Tanzer Association of British Travel Agencies (ABTA), Chief Executive, 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.
ABTA believes that high levels of APD are putting the whole UK economy at a competitive disadvantage to its continental neighbours and damaging the UK’s traditional lead as an international aviation hub. This correlation between high levels of aviation tax and sluggish economic growth has long been recognised on the continent with the Dutch, Belgian and Danish governments all having removed or dropped plans for their versions of APD after assessments of the overall negative impact on their economies. Ireland has reduced its APD rates and now attracts over 1 million customers from Northern Ireland each year.
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19 – 25 May 2012 Regional and Industry News
Regional News
East Midlands Airport: Monarch to take over bmibaby routes
Monarch Airlines has confirmed it will be taking over some routes to Portugal and Spain from East Midlands Airport, from bmibaby. The budget airline will be grounded from September, after British Airways bought BMI from Lufthansa. The sale of bmibaby has put 470 jobs at risk at its Castle Donington base. All bmibaby flights will cease to operate from Monday 10 September.
Plymouth City Airport equipment auction to go ahead
Airport leaseholder Sutton Harbour Holdings plc (SHH) is to go ahead with an auction of Portsmouth City Airport’s equipment, including fire engines, portable buildings and X-ray machines, despite a call from Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans to call a halt. Viable group wants to re-open the airport, and Cllr Evans has called for the sale to be stopped.
SHH has agreed to keep the terminal buildings, air traffic control and fire-and-rescue facilities in good repair and not demolish buildings or make structural alterations.
Business as usual despite strike, says Stansted Airport bosses
Passengers were advised to check in as normal at Stansted Airport despite the first of a wave of strikes by ground staff in a row over rosters. Members of the GMB will walk out for 24 hours from 5.30am on the 23 May, followed by strikes from 5.30am on Saturday until 5.30am on Monday and from 5.30am on Saturday June 2 until 5.30am on Wednesday June 6.
BAA Ltd Chief claims European airport bosses are benefiting from UK Government’s restrictions on Heathrow
BAA Ltd chief Colin Matthews claims he is mocked by fellow airport bosses when he attends international aviation conferences. “People think, if you squeeze Heathrow, other British airports like Gatwick will benefit, but squeeze Heathrow and Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt benefit. Schiphol already describe themselves as ‘the hub for the UK’” says Mr Matthews.
Industry News
International Airline Group and easyJet in no rush to pass on EU ETS charges as they reveal costs in latest accounts
Two of Europe’s biggest airline operators, easyJet and International Airlines Group (IAG, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia), have both quoted EU ETS costs in their latest accounts that cover the first quarter of 2012. Both airlines remain reluctant to spell out when, and by how much, they intend to pass on the costs to customers.
Ryanair warns of austerity and fuel crisis
Ryanair today warned of an impending storm that will hammer the aviation industry as surging fuel costs meet suppressed passenger demand. The budget carrier has posted profit growth of at least 25% every year since 2009, but today admitted its profit will fall by up to a fifth in the coming year. The International Air Transport Association has forecast that European airlines will collectively lose €600 million this year.
Ryanair to appeal Aer Lingus ruling on shareholder stake
Ryanair said its lawyers will go to the Supreme Court to appeal yesterday’s ruling that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) can launch an investigation into the budget airline’s 29 per cent stake in Aer Lingus.
Ryanair claims the watchdog should have referred the case to the Competition Commission within four months of a 2007 European Commission ruling that blocked its takeover bid for Aer Lingus. The Court of Appeal said the OFT is not “out of time” to investigate Ryanair’s six-year-old holding.
Christoph Mueller, chief executive of Aer Lingus, said: “It is unacceptable that our principal competitor has been allowed to remain as a significant shareholder on our share register.”
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26 May – 1 June 2012 Regional and Industry News
Regional News
Councillors reject Manston Airport’s night flight plans
Manston Airport’s plans to run flights during the night have been rejected in a vote by councillors at Thanet District Council because councillors decided the proposed scheduled flights would be too noisy and have too great an environmental impact.
Manston wants some planes taking off and landing between 11pm and 7am to help increase air capacity. However, a consultation found three quarters of people living nearby did not want night flights.
Newcastle airport set for sale auction
Copenhagen Airports inviting bids for its 49% stake in Newcastle airport. The northeast airport has attracted interest from various infrastructure firms including 3i, Antin and Australian fund IFM. Seven local councils will retain their 51% holding in the airport. The airport’s owners are also in talks over restructuring its debts with a £320 million repayment due in December 2013.
BAA Ltd wins permission to appeal ruling on Stansted Airport sale
The owners of Stansted Airport, BAA Ltd have been given permission to appeal against a competition ruling that forces it to sell off Stansted Airport.
BAA said it “look[s] forward to presenting our arguments before the Court of Appeal” after it was allowed to fight against the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s February ruling.
Town and Country Planning Association report suggests Heathrow site is developed into garden city
The vision for Heathrow Garden City has been drawn up by Graeme Bell, vice president of lobby group the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA).
The Heathrow Garden City document consider the future for the Heathrow site if the government decided to close the airport and build a new replacement airport hub elsewhere.
Industry News
Office of Fair Trading fines British Airways a reduced sum of £58.5m for fuel surcharge cartel
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) announced on 19 April 2012 that British Airways (BA) would be fined £58.5m for its involvement in a cartel to fix fuel surcharge pricing on long-haul passenger flights to and from the UK between August 2004 and January 2006. During this period, BA co-ordinated fuel surcharge pricing with Virgin Atlantic Airways (VAA) through the exchange of pricing and other commercially sensitive information in response to rising oil prices.
Aviation experts rubbish Thames estuary replacement for Heathrow
Chris Chalk, director of aviation at engineering and development consultancy Mott MacDonald, said, “People have written off Heathrow without fully comprehending its importance” at a Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum.
Medway Council director of regeneration, community and culture Robin Cooper said, “Forty thousand people with homes or livelihoods in the area [of the new airport] would be displaced. We build about 750 houses a year in Medway. The airport would require 170,000.”
Press Releases
Court of Appeal agrees to hear another Stansted appeal – Stop Stansted Expansion
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March 2011-12 CAA Airport Traffic Stats (Reported in May 2012)