SASIG 2012/13 Meeting Dates
Friday 9 November 2012
Friday 1 March 2013
30 June – 6 July 2012 Regional and Industry News
Regional News
Thames Estuary airport not solution: South East business report
The report, commissioned by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said an estuary airport would be too expensive and would take too long. It recommended expanding other airports such as Gatwick and Heathrow to meet increasing air travel demands, although it acknowledges that Gatwick expansion could not happen for another seven years because of a legal ruling.
Luton Airport expansion protest
A protest against the expansion of Luton Airport will take place on 7 July 2012. Representatives from campaign groups and residents who will be affected by the proposed plans will attend the protest. Organisers have invited airport managers and owners to explain their new plans during the event.
No to ‘incessant’ Heathrow aircraft noise
Wandsworth Council is urging BAA Ltd boss Colin Matthews to abandon support for mixed mode operations at Heathrow. Currently, borough residents living under the flight path get a half-day’s respite from aircraft noise when approaching planes switch runways at 3pm – a system known as runway alternation. Mixed mode allows Heathrow to use both of its runways for taking off and landing at the same time.
The call to bring about an end to mixed mode is supported by the leaders of Wandsworth, Richmond, Hounslow and Hillingdon councils.
Council rejects claims of noisy jets at Southend Airport
Bosses at Southend Council have said that the number of complaints about aircraft noise was at roughly the same level as it had been before easyJet moved into the town in April. They believe many residents living under the flight path mistake planes flying to or from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and London City airports for those heading into Southend. A committee has been set up to monitor complaints and ensure the airport doesn’t breach strict limits on flight paths and night operations.
Industry News
New Aviation Environment Federation (AEF) report challenges myth of airport capacity crisis
Since the Government announced its policy of opposition to new runways at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, the aviation industry has been working hard to put out the message that there is a crisis in airport capacity in the South East. In fact, however, the Government’s forecasts of air traffic demand indicate that even if no constraints on airport growth were imposed for environmental reasons, passenger demand could be entirely met with existing infrastructure until nearly 2030. Even if no new runways were built anywhere in the UK before 2030, only about 3% of air traffic would be squeezed out.
AEF’s new report, which provides a detailed analysis of the forecasts, identifies a long term trend of passenger demand being overestimated: every time that the Government has revised its forecasts, the numbers have been downgraded.
Willie Walsh rules out International Airlines Group (IAG) bid for Aer Lingus
IAG chief executive Willie Walsh has said he is not interested in acquiring Aer Lingus, or the Government’s 25 per cent stake in the airline.
Media
Flightglobal interview with British Airways chief executive Keith Williams
Mr Williams discusses British Airway’s (BA) involvement with the London Olympics and the integration of BA and bmi following International Airlines Group acquisition of the airline earlier this year.
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7 – 13 July 2012 Regional and Industry News
Regional News
New Terminal Extension Opens At Newcastle International Airport Minister of State for Transport, Theresa Villiers, opened the development. Ms Villiers said: “Regional airports have a vital role to play supporting local jobs and growth.
“They are also a key aspect of a national aviation network that connects our country to the world, and Newcastle is a fine example.
Airport City bosses in £650m China business investment mission
Manchester Airport is bidding to attract Chinese businesses to its Airport City project – and bring billions of pounds of investment to the region. Bosses hope Airport City will create up to 20,000 jobs over the next 15 years.
Angry residents protest against Luton Airport plans
Manchester Airports Group to Bid for Stansted Airport
The Sunday Times has reported that the Manchester Airports Group is preparing to bid for Stansted Airport, without saying where it obtained the information.
Race starts to find contractor for £60m Heathrow runway refurbishment
Newquay Aerohub to create up to 2,500 jobs
Cornwall’s new enterprise zone dedicated to the aerospace industry will create up to 2,500 jobs, according to the government.
Industry News
Richard Branson says BA-Iberia merger should be undone
In an interview with Spanish daily Cinco Dias, Branson said that the alliance is bad for employees, bad for Spain for allowing it to happen, and bad for competition.
Virgin Atlantic boss warns UK is at risk of joining the third world
Britain will fall behind the rest of the world unless a “bold, brave” stance on airline growth is adopted by the government, Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson has warned. Branson said that Virgin will participate in the coalition’s ongoing aviation review, but only if it reverses its “farcical” blanket ban on considering a third runway at Heathrow.
Branson’s to back ‘A Fair Tax on Flying’ campaign
Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays will carry a message on all e-tickets criticising APD, giving passengers the chance to petition their local MP against it via the A Fair Tax on Flying website.
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announce £120 million investment in aerospace research
The new funding, part of a total £200 million investment in aerospace since 2011, was announced alongside a new vision for the future of the sector which will help UK aerospace firms win billions of pounds worth of new contracts over the next 15 to 20 years.
British Airways looks to raise £250 million
British Airways wants to raise up to £250 million through offering corporate bonds to investors which will be secured against some of its Heathrow slots.
Media
Richard Deakin: Airports at Heathrow and the Thames Estuary ‘just wouldn’t work’ – Interview with the Telegraph
NATS chief Richard Deakin discusses the difficulties posed by a Thames Estuary airport and the challenge of the Olympics.
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14 – 20 July 2012 Regional and Industry News
Regional News
Western rail link fuels Heathrow speculation
Confirmation of a £500 million rail link giving direct services to Heathrow from the west country, the Thames Valley and Wales is raising speculation that a third runway could be built at the airport.
Manchester Airports Group (MAG) boss welcomes government consultation
Charlie Cornish, chief executive of MAG has welcomed the government’s decision to separate a consultation on regional airports and the expansion of Heathrow.
Bristol Airport’s fears over £500 million rail link to Heathrow
Bristol Airport bosses are “concerned” after the government pledged up to £500 million to link the city with Heathrow by rail. Bristol Airport bosses have warned that while it welcomed better access to air travel, it was “concerned that the proposed Heathrow link could exacerbate existing capacity issues in the South East”.
South Tyneside Council makes cash promise to Newcastle Airport
Council chiefs in South Tyneside have pledged to keep pumping money into Newcastle Airport as it refinances its debts. Each of the seven North East authorities – which have a combined 51 per cent stake in the airport – have revealed they are making provision in their budgets to enable them to invest back into the site.
Crawley Borough Council reviews plans for a new platform at Gatwick Airport train station to ease overcrowding
The Gatwick Express currently gets priority at platforms one and two of the airport’s six platforms, causing a “bottleneck” when other trains are held to allow it to cross the tracks to reach its stopping point. A new platform at Gatwick Airport train station could help resolve delays. But plans, submitted to Crawley Borough Council by Network Rail, propose a new seventh platform at the station which would allow a platform to be dedicated solely to the Express service.
New South Yorkshire link road will help Robin Hood Airport take off
Plans to build the long awaited link road between Robin Hood Airport and the M18 have reached a major landmark after final details were completed by Doncaster Council officials. Technical issues over factors such as flooding, had to be sorted out with both the Environment Agency and the Highways Agency, but the scheme can now move ahead.
£9 billion rail plan paves way for Stoke to Manchester Airport link
A direct train service to Manchester Airport could be reinstated after the Government approved a £9.4 billion investment in railway upgrades.
Cambridge airport reduces its landing fees in a bid to attract private jets
Gatwick Airport plans to handle 40m passengers by 2021
Gatwick Airport has unveiled its vision for growth up until 2020, including plans to handle up to 40 million passengers a year, in it’s masterplan. Bosses plan to invest another £1bn in the airport to increase passengers by 2021-22 and create an extra 1,200 jobs. They said there were no current plans for a second runway and they were focused on making the best use of their single runway and two terminals. But proposals for a new runway have been included as a long-term option.
Industry News
Air passenger duty campaign hits 55,000 due to ‘Branson effect’
The A Fair Tax on Flying industry lobby group attributed the surge in support to the ‘Branson effect’ after the Virgin Atlantic founder publicly backed the campaign.
Press Releases
Indecisive aviation strategy – Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign
Media
Is the UK’s aviation policy up in the air? – BBC Comment
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21 – 27 July 2012 Regional and Industry News
Regional News
Work begins on expansion of Land’s End airport
Bristol Airport bosses report a 6.9% rise in passenger numbers in June
BAA Ltd warn the forced sale of Stansted will ‘discourage’ foreign investors
BAA Ltd has warned that a forced sale of Stansted airport in the current depressed market will discourage foreign investors from backing UK infrastructure projects.
BAA Ltd posts a 8.8% rise in first-half profit on Heathrow Airport
BAA Ltd says Stansted airport will rebound when UK economy recovers
Stansted’s traffic has continued to decline this year, although BAA Ltd’s major airport Heathrow has broken new records and improved passenger satisfaction scores.
Norwich International Airport unveils 10 year vision to create 1,000 new jobs with aviation business park scheme
Bosses of Norwich International Airport have unveiled major plans to create a specialist aviation business park which could create nearly 1,000 jobs over the next decade.
BAA Ltd told by the Court of Appeal it must sell Stansted airport
BAA Ltd vows to fight against Stansted airport sale through the supreme court
Industry News
Virgin Atlantic poised to appeal the EU decision to allow International Airline Group’s (IAG) purchase of Bmi
Sir Richard Branson believes that the deal was agreed too quickly given that it resulted in IAG having over half all take-off and landing slots at Heathrow.
British Airways abandons £250mn fundraising ‘bonds’ plan
International Airlines Group – the parent company of British Airways, launched the plan earlier this month but decided within 11 days that it was not going to work.
Press Releases
Gatwick Airport master plan gives runway low priority – Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign
BAA Ltd finally runs out of runway at Stansted – Stop Stansted Expansion
Competition Commission welcomes Stansted sale verdict – Competition Commission
easyJet statement: Stansted Airport Sale – easyJet
Media
GlobalAirportCities.com interview with Manchester Airport’s John Atkins at Airport Cities 2012
Manchester Airport Group’s Airport City director John Atkins talks about the development plans for Manchester Airport City.
Consultations
Gatwick Airport master plan 2012 – P-RNAV consultation
A consultation is open from 19 July 2012 to 19 October 2012 to accurately refine the existing aircraft departure routes from Gatwick within the next five years.
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May 2011-12 CAA Airport Traffic Stats (Reported in July 2012)