EDITORIAL
In the hope of avoiding comparisons with Southern Rail, I hope you will forgive this somewhat tardy arrival of your January Newsletter. This is due, not to leaves on the line, the wrong kind of snow or even some impenetrable quasi-governmental industrial dispute about manning levels, but rather to a perfect storm of Tribunals, Public Inquiries, half-term and sick leave which have sidelined your Secretariat and delayed your monthly digest of aviation news. However, I am pleased to say, that no sooner will you have finished reading this month’s Newsletter then next month’s will be winging its way to you faster than Buckbeak in the Prisoner of Azkerban – a visit to Leavesden has left a lingering impression on the Head of Secretariat!
And so, although there are two newsletters close together, unlike the proverbial London Bus, I can guarantee they won’t come in three’s. The same cannot be said for DfT consultations on Aviation Policy where we could have not just three but four running in parallel. First there was the long anticipated ‘Night Noise’ exercise published on 12 January, to be rapidly followed by a consultation on the draft Airports National Policy Statement and a another one on airspace policy; and finally, we are promised a further consultation on the scope of a future Aviation Strategy is also on its way shortly.
This was all as foreshadowed at SASIG meetings and working groups, but now that it is here, serves to confirm the heavy pressure that will be placed on SASIG member authorities and other local authorities that have an airport within their boundaries or are directly or indirectly affected by them. The Secretariat is thinking about how best to co-ordinate responses to these consultations with SASIG’s own ongoing policy development work and how this should be prioritised and will be setting that out at forthcoming Technical Working Group sessions, to which all members are welcome, and at a policy focused event on 7 April details of which will to follow.
In the interim get practising your ‘Patronas Charms’ for any aspects of the consultation documents you particularly disagree with and lets see if collectively we cannot banish some of the more ‘demented’ DfT policies and replace them with some that are rather more appropriate and helpful.
Chris Cain,
Head of Secretariat
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CONTENTS
- Monthly Highlights
- Meetings & Conferences
- Parliamentary News
- London and South East News
- Regional News
- National and Other Industry News
- European News
- SASIG Library Additions
- Print this newsletter
MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS
12th January – Government published a consultation on night flight restrictions at the designated airports. These can be seen on the DfT and SASIG websites.
12th January – Government published the annual noise reports for the three designated airports. These can be seen on the DfT and SASIG websites.
15th January – Minister for Aviation, Lord Ahmed, has agreed to meet a SASIG delegation on March 21st to discuss how our work can help formulate the new Aviation Strategy.
Finally, Sarah Bishop was appointed as Deputy Director, Aviation Policy at DfT. Sarah was previously Head of Transport Strategy at HM Treasury and, before that, Economic Advisor on the Airports Commission working producing the Interim Report.
Events:
A calendar of planned open public consultations has been published on ‘Your voice in Europe’. The direct link to the calendar is: http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/consultations/docs/planned-consultations-2016_en.pdf
MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES
– 1st March: Technical Working Groups: Surface Access (a.m.) and Environment, Planning & Airspace (pm) Venue: Stansted Aerozone.
– 7th April: Full SASIG meeting and Workshops: Venue: CIHT, London.
– 25th May: Technical Working Groups: Surface Access (am) and Environment, Planning & Airspace (pm) Venue: CIHT, London.
– 7th June: Technical Working Group: Airports, Cities & Economic Growth. Venue: East India Club, London.
– 6th July: SASIG AGM/Full meeting: Venue: CIHT, London.
External Meetings and Conferences
– 6th April: Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum: Regional Airports in the UK: priorities for connectivity, capacity and investment – Central Birmingham. Sessions at this seminar will focus on regional airport capacity and aviation throughout the UK, following the publication of the Airports Commission report into expansion in the South East in 2015 and the expected government decision later this year.
– 23rd-25th April: Routes Europe 2017 – Belfast Northern Ireland.
– 15th – 17th May: ACI Europe’s 10th Regional Airports Conference & Exhibition: Cork, Ireland.
– 4th-6th July: LGA Annual Conference & Exhibition: International Convention Centre, Birmingham. This is the local Government event of the year.
No aviation related transport questions from Parliament this month.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
Q.1. Question (58485) asked by Dr. Tania Matthias (Twickenham) on 20th December 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the effect of the proposed third runway at Heathrow Airport on air quality; and what steps her Department is taking to incorporate its assessment of the air quality effect of a third runway in its revised air quality plan”.
A. Dr Therese Coffey on 9th January 2017: “The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including on air quality. Our air quality plans have always followed the best available evidence. We are currently working on the next steps needed to revise the national air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide. We will set out further measures in 2017”.
Q.2. Question (58498) asked by Dr. Tania Matthias (Twickenham) on 20th December 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the publication of draft flight paths to and from an expanded Heathrow Airport ”.
A. John Hayes on 9th January 2017: “We cannot be certain about the timing of the publication of draft flight paths for an expanded Heathrow Airport, because the airport operator will be leading the application for the airspace changes needed for new flight paths associated with a new runway. They will need to follow the Civil Aviation Authority’s airspace change process. It is through this process that communities will see and have the opportunity to comment on detailed proposals for any new flight paths. This process covers all aspects of the proposal including safety and environmental impacts, and a requirement to consult the communities that may be affected by the proposal”.
Q.3. Question (58488) asked by Dr. Tania Matthias (Twickenham) on 20th December 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish the draft National Policy Statement on the expansion of Heathrow Airport”.
A. John Hayes on 9th January 2017: “I refer the Hon. Member to the oral statement on airport capacity on 25 October 2016: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/airport-capacity. In that statement my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State set out how the announcement fits within the planning process, and the opportunities members of this House have to contribute. He stated that in the New Year, we will bring forward a draft ‘National policy statement’, which includes the details of the proposed scheme. As required under legislation, this will be subject to a full and extensive public consultation, followed by a period of Parliamentary scrutiny. Only once members have voted on the final National Policy Statement and it has been designated will the airport be able to bring forward a detailed planning application.”
Q.4. Question (58487) asked by Dr. Tania Matthias (Twickenham) on 20th December 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to announce which elements of surface access to the proposed third runway at Heathrow Airport will be funded from the public purse”.
A. John Hayes on 9th January 2017: “The Government has been clear that the promoter, Heathrow Airport Limited, will meet the costs of the surface access improvements necessary to allow expansion of the airport. Where a surface access scheme has a wider range of beneficiaries, and are not specific to the addition of a new runway, the Government will consider, along with other relevant stakeholders, the need for public funding on a case-by-case basis. For schemes such as the Western Rail Link and Southern Rail Access, such considerations would take place at an appropriate time in that project’s development process”.
Q.5. Question (58484) asked by Dr. Tania Matthias (Twickenham) on 20th December 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential (a) economic benefits and (b) level of new jobs resulting from the third runway at Heathrow Airport by region of the UK”.
A. John Hayes on 9th January 2017: “The economic benefits of a new runway at Heathrow have been assessed at a national level. It is estimated that a new runway will deliver up to £61 billion of benefits to passengers and the wider UK economy.
The local jobs created at and around the airport have also been assessed, with Heathrow expansion expected to deliver up to 77,000 additional local jobs by 2030. While it is not possible to precisely quantify the impacts on regional jobs and GDP, expanding airport capacity in the South East will support economic growth in the UK’s regions”.
Q.6. Question (HL4365) asked by Baroness Hamwee on 21st December 2016: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they propose to designate a national policy statement on the expansion of Heathrow Airport separately from dealing with airspace policy”.
A. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9th January 2017: “The consultations on the draft airports National Policy Statement on Heathrow Airport and on airspace policy are both matters of national importance in their own right, but are clearly related. The Government intends to bring forward the two consultations at the same time to enable the public and the aviation industry to consider all proposals together. Consulting in parallel can also enable the policy proposals set out in the airspace consultation which are adopted to be in place to influence decisions taken later on in the planning process for a proposed Northwest Runway at Heathrow. Equally, airspace is an important issue and the policy proposals cover the whole country, so it is right that we progress with policy proposals to bring improvements to the way it is handled nationwide”.
Q.7. Question (HL4367) asked by Baroness Hamwee on 21st December 2016: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether it is possible to undertake proper consultation on a national policy statement on Heathrow Airport and on airspace policy as separate matters”.
Q.8. Question (HL4366) asked by Baroness Hamwee on 21st December 2016: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether it is necessary to consult on airspace policy for the UK as a whole before designating a national policy statement on Heathrow Airport”.
Grouped answer to HL4367 and HL4366 by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9th January 2017: “The consultations on the draft airports National Policy Statement on Heathrow Airport and on airspace policy are both matters of national importance in their own right, but are clearly related. The Government intends to bring forward the two consultations at the same time to enable the public and the aviation industry to consider all proposals together. Consulting in parallel can also enable the policy proposals set out in the airspace consultation which are adopted to be in place to influence decisions taken later on in the planning process for a proposed Northwest Runway at Heathrow. Equally, airspace is an important issue and the policy proposals cover the whole country, so it is right that we progress with policy proposals to bring improvements to the way it is handled nationwide”.
Q.9. Question (HL4377) asked by Baroness Randerson on 21st December 2016: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to include aviation and airport connectivity in the remit of the National Infrastructure Commission”.
A. Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 9th January 2017: “The National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) remit includes all sectors of economic infrastructure, including transport (road, rail, ports and airports). The NIC will examine strategic transport infrastructure when it conducts its first National Infrastructure Assessment”.
Q.10. Question (HL4380) asked by Baroness Randerson on 21st December 2016: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to set out a framework for airspace modernisation; and if so, when”.
A. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9th January 2017: “The framework for implementing airspace modernisation is set out in the Future Airspace Strategy which was published by the Civil Aviation Authority in 2011. Its implementation is a matter for the aviation industry. To help assist the process of airspace modernisation, the Government intends to consult on airspace policy shortly”.
Q.11. Question (58954) asked by Mike Kane (Wythenshawe & Sale East) on 6th January 2017: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support the creation of new long-haul air services to airports across the UK to support international trade as part of the new Aviation Policy Framework”.
A. John Hayes on 16th January 2017: “My Department regards air services to and from UK as an economic priority, essential for the creation of jobs and growth. We have the world’s third largest aviation market and are working to maintain and expand it. My officials are active at international, multilateral and bilateral levels to support the expansion of air services. Last year my officials engaged with over 25 countries, ranging from China and Russia to the Bahamas, to renew and update the UK’s air services arrangements. These new arrangements will support the creation of long haul air services to airports across the UK, as well as maximising business opportunities for UK airlines and airports”.
Q.12. Question (60127) asked by Sarah Olney (Richmond Park) on 16th January 2017: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on the financial viability of a third runway at Heathrow Airport of the finding of Transport for London in its report of March 2016, entitled Landing the Right Airport of March 2016, that upgrades to surface access will cost £15 billion to £20 billion”.
A. John Hayes on 19th January 2017: “We do not accept the estimates of potential costs for surface access provision set out by Transport for London. It is not clear on what basis they were derived and appear to go far beyond work which might be necessary to support the construction of a new northwest runway at Heathrow Airport. The specific surface access arrangements will need to be determined between Government and the airport promoter as part of the necessary statutory planning process. The surface access plan is expected to include schemes which are already underway and which benefit the airport, such as Crossrail, which are already funded; schemes which are needed solely for the airport to expand, which Heathrow Airport will fund, and schemes which benefit the airport and the wider public, where funding will be considered separately”.
Q.13. Question (60128) asked by Sarah Olney (Richmond Park) on 16th January 2017: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will estimate the cost of upgrading surface access to Heathrow Airport in the event of a third runway being built at that airport”.
A. John Hayes on 19th January 2017: “Heathrow Airport Limited have pledged to meet the costs of any surface access proposals that are essential to deliver airport expansion including works on the M25, the A4 and the A3044. Where surface access projects have wider beneficiaries, such as the Western Rail and Southern Rail proposals, the Government will consider funding a proportion based on benefits for airport users and other beneficiaries in line with our Aviation Policy Framework. The Airports Commission estimated that the potential costs of the surface access provision for a northwest runway were around £5bn but recognised that the finalised details, and therefore costs – would be determined as part of the statutory planning process”.
Q.14. Question (60495) asked by Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) on 17th January 2017: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with the authorities at Heathrow Airport on ensuring that construction of the proposed third runway leaves an employment and skills legacy for the UK”.
A. John Hayes on 20th January 2017: “Heathrow Airport Limited has made a public commitment to double the number of apprenticeships to 10,000 by the time a new runway is operational. This commitment was also set out in the Statement of Principles, agreed between the Secretary of State for Transport and Heathrow Airport Limited, published in October 2016. Additionally Heathrow Airport recently announced the development of the Heathrow Skills Task Force. Chaired by the Rt Hon, the Lord Blunkett, to identify the skills and training required to support both expansion at the airport and ensure that construction leaves a national skills legacy for future infrastructure projects. The Government will shortly publish a draft Airports National Policy Statement for public consultation and scrutiny by Parliament setting out the planning framework for any future Development Consent Order (DCO) for additional airport capacity in the South East”.
Q.15. Question (60272) asked by Catherine West (Hornsey & Wood Green) on 17th January 2017: “To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the Government’s policy is on membership of the European Aviation Safety Agency after the UK leaves the EU”.
A. Robin Walker on 20th January 2017: “As part of the exit negotiations the Government will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of aviation safety and standards. It would not be appropriate to pre-judge the outcome of the negotiations”.
Q.16. Question (60277) asked by Seema Malhotra (Feltham & Heston) on 17th January 2017: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to consult on the Airports Commission’s Surface Access Works: Strategic Road Network Proposals for the expansion of Heathrow Airport which relate to the M4 between junctions 2 and 4”.
(Answer grouped with Q.17 – 60278)
Q.17. Question (60278) asked by Seema Malhotra (Feltham & Heston) on 17th January 2017: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Airports Commission’s Surface Access Works: Strategic Road Network (SRN) Proposals, whether his Department will publish further details of the SRN surface access proposals for the expansion of Heathrow Airport which relate to the M4 between junctions 2 and 4”.
A. (Grouped with Q. 60277) John Hayes on 20th January 2017: “The Airports Commission in its Final Report and supporting documents published in July 2015, considered potential options for improving capacity on the M4 motorway between junctions 2 and 4 in relation the expansion of Heathrow airport. As part of the Government’s consideration of the Airports Commission’s work and recommendations, Highways England assessed and validated the costs and deliverability of the Commission’s strategic road proposals, which were published in October 2016 alongside Government’s announcement of its preference for a new northwest runway at Heathrow airport. The Department recognises that future improvements to the M4 may be needed for a number of reasons to address future transport demand, including wider population and economic growth, but not solely as a result of the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport. The Department will be considering the need for potential future improvements for the strategic road network, including the M4, as part of its long term investment planning processes for development of future Road Investment programmes. The Government will set out details about plans for a new runway at Heathrow airport in Parliament through a draft National Policy Statement shortly. It will be subject to a full and public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny”.
Q.18. Question (60519) asked by Gavin Shuker (Luton, South) on 18th January 2017: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has spent on improving surface access to each airport in the South East of England since 2010; and if he will make a statement”.
A. John Hayes on 26th January 2017: “This Government’s multi-billion investment programmes for our national road and rail networks, and funding for local authority transport improvements, includes many transport schemes that benefit people travelling to and from an airport. However, due to the number of schemes and the mixture of capital and resource funding, information on total spending on surface access schemes improving accessibility to airports in the South East of England airports is not readily available in the format requested. Government has, however, provided significant investment for projects which improve access to airports in the South East, for example, the £14.8 billion Crossrail scheme which will serve Heathrow airport; the £6.5 billion Thameslink Programme which increases capacity and improves reliability for passengers travelling to Gatwick and Luton airports, along with a new £53 million platform at Gatwick airport station; and the over £300 million investment on the M1 between junction 10 and 13, and the £30 million enhancements to junction 10a of the M1 that improve access to Luton airport. Investment has also been committed for upgrades to the M4 motorway (around £750 million) near Heathrow, as well as up to £250 million on improvements to sections of the M23 serving Gatwick, and up to £25 million on improvements to the M11 improving access to Stansted airport”.
Q.19. Question (60654) asked by Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield) on 18th January 2017: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to respond to the recommendation of the Airlines UK report, responding to the carbon challenge, published on 15 January 2017”.
A. John Hayes on 25th January 2017: “I welcome the report, which demonstrates the UK Airline sector’s engagement in this serious issue. I note the recommendations, which Government will consider as part of work to develop a new Aviation Strategy. The Government is working on an Aviation Strategy to replace the 2013 Aviation Policy Framework and this will include consideration of available policy measures to address the climate change impacts of aviation, including those proposed by industry. We remain open and willing to consider all feasible measures to ensure that the aviation sector contributes fairly to UK emissions reductions”.
GOVERNMENT NEWS
3rd January – Government criticised over consultancy fees for 3rd runway. A FOI request has revealed the Government allowed Dft to spend approximately £10k per day.
4th January – Man arrested at Heathrow over suspicion of terror offence. The man was apprehended by counter-terrorism police as he got off a plane from Cairo.
9th January – Growth at Gatwick could support additional 13,000 new jobs. Report by Oxford Economics, published today, says this could be done by 2025 with its single runway.
10th January – London City Airport reports record figures for 2016. It has reported a record-breaking 4.5 million passengers in 2016, the largest in its 30-year history.
11th January – London City Airport released pictures to mark its 30th anniversary. Images show the transformation of the site and the surrounding skyline.
13th January – Gatwick has more night flights than Heathrow or Stansted. Information comes from the DfT night flight consultation documents released yesterday.
13th January – Gatwick announces new planning chief. Tim Norwood who secured planning consent for Hinkley Point C, the UK’s first new nuclear power station for a generation – is to become new Chief Planning Officer.
18th January – Gatwick will be carbon neutral by spring. It is the first UK airport to join global renewable electricity alliance.
18th January – MP calls for night flight restrictions at Luton Airport. This follows a consultation launched last week to bring in tighter noise quotas and introduce quieter planes at the other London airports.
20th January – Gatwick issues advice to passengers regarding terminal moves. BA, easyjet and Virgin Atlantic are all being relocated to different terminals.
20th January – New funding announced to improve air quality across London. One of UK’s first hydrogen-diesel powered vans will trial at Heathrow’s delivery consolidation centre.
23rd January – Heathrow cancels about 100 flights due to bad fog. London City Airport has also cancelled around 30 so far.
25th January – London City Airport will be pitched as a hub to connect Ireland with hard-to-reach places. Airport C.E. Declan Collier said the airport is already seeing traffic from Dublin use it to transfer onto regional and short-haul routes throughout the continent.
25th January – Heathrow breaks passenger satisfaction record. 84% of passengers rated their experience as either “excellent” or “very good” in last quarter of 2016.
30th January – Gatwick Airport sponsors Surrey Business Conference. It will take place on 24th February in Guildford and will bring together business leaders from across Surrey.
3rd January – Leeds Bradford Airport Director predicts growth in 2017. Improvements in terminal and completion of Masterplan are all part of his prediction.
3rd January – Belfast City Airport’s 2m seat sale limit to be lifted. The decision, by Infrastructure Minister was revealed in a letter to Finance Minister and seen by residents groups.
3rd January – Up to 7,000 new jobs could be created by ‘inland port’ near East Midlands Airport. East Midlands Gateway project will provide a strategic Rail Freight interchange on farmland near the airport.
3rd January – Norwegian prepares for continued growth at Edinburgh Airport. The low-cost airline has announced it will be creating more than 130 crew and pilot jobs in Scotland.
4th January – OAG names Birmingham Airport as world’s most punctual airport in 2016. It beat contenders from countries such as Japan, Brazil, America, Germany and Australia.
4th January – Newcastle Airport is named as world’s most punctual small airport. OAG’s 2016 Punctuality League says it has over 90% of flights both leaving and arriving on time.
4th January – Bristol Airport passenger numbers exceed 7.5 million in 2016. Exceeds total for 2015 by over ¾ million passengers.
5th January – Flybe expands flight options from Cornwall Newquay Airport. Flights to Stansted make a return and other routes see increased services.
6th January – Aer Lingus announce new route from Newquay to Cork. The new route will begin on 6th May and last for the summer.
9th January – US Ambassador Kevin F. O’Malley visits Cork Airport. Transatlantic services will start in May with WOW Air, via Iceland, to nine North American destinations.
10th January – Cardiff Airport report 16% increase in passenger numbers. This covers the 2016 calendar year.
10th January – Shannon Airport announces earlier morning service to Heathrow. From 26th March it will depart at 07:30 a.m.
10th January – Hint that Welsh Government could gain power to cut APD post-Brexit. Supporters of APD devolution believe this would be a major boost to Cardiff Airport.
10th January – Birmingham Airport celebrates its busiest year in history. The busiest month in 2016 was August and December figures increased by nearly 24% over last December.
11th January – Record 9.4 million passengers in 2016 for Glasgow Airport. Extra special as 2016 was also their Golden Anniversary year.
12th January – Morpho Detection wins Bristol Airport Contract for CTX Hold Baggage Explosives Detection Systems.
13th January – East Midlands Airport runway resurfaced super quick. The intensive approach, a first for the UK, involved a team of 350 workers replacing 50,000 tonnes of asphalt over the course of 336 hours.
13th January – Footage shows planes struggling to land in snow at Leeds Bradford airport. Bad weather is causing problems at Leeds and other airports.
13th January – On 16 January the South Bristol Link will open for the first time. It will improve access to Bristol Airport for passengers travelling by car from the north, east and west.
16th January – BMI regional is creating a new hub at Birmingham Airport. The airline will be offering flights to Nuremberg (Germany), Gothenburg (Sweden) and Graz (Austria) this year.
16th January – Leeds Bradford Airport to run course for frightened passengers. Virgin Atlantic will run a one-day course at airport in February for people scared of plane travel.
18th January – WOW will continue route between Bristol Airport and Iceland. The route was originally to stop on 24 March but will recommence on 14 June 2017 with five new aircraft.
18th January – Passenger numbers at Shannon Airport, increase. This is the 4th consecutive year numbers have risen and is a 2% increase on 2015.
20th January – Southampton Airport selects its charity of the year. It has chosen Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) as its Charity of the Year for 2017.
22nd January – Ryanair boss says axe APD. Michael O’Leary says the controversial Air Passenger Duty should be axed at regional airports like Liverpool to help them grow.
23rd January – Doncaster Sheffield Airport reports best ever year. 2016 was a record year for the airport as it welcomed 1.2 million passengers.
24th January – Manchester Airport to open adult-only lounge. Costing £1.6m, the adult-only lounge will be called 1903, named after the year of the Wright Brothers first flight.
24th January – Cornwall Newquay Airport is fastest growing in the UK. Passenger numbers jumped by almost half last year recording a 48% growth for the calendar year 2016.
26th January – Two Flybe flights makes emergency landings within 24 hrs. Both flights had to make emergency landings in the UK due to reported technical faults.
26th January – Ryanair launches new route from Liverpool to Milan Malpensa. The three times a week service begins in October as part of the airline’s winter 2017 schedule.
30th January – Birmingham Airport Trust Fund supports local tree planting. The funding awarded to Birmingham Trees for Life, is part of the Airport Community Trust Fund which awards grants to community groups in areas most affected by the Airport’s operations.
2nd January – BA flight from San Francisco to London, diverted to Vancouver. Crew members experienced sickness after complaining about suspected toxic fumes.
3rd January – BA launches longest non-stop flight from Europe. 4 times weekly service will fly from Heathrow to Santiago in Chile.
4th January – BA cabin crew to stage 48 hr strike from 10th January. Members of Unite will walk out after rejecting new pay offer.
4th January – December numbers up for Ryanair and Wizz Air. Both airlines enjoyed rise in December figures and 2016 overall figures as compared to 2015.
5th January – Monarch chief calls for ‘hard’ EU exit. The UK should make a clean break with the EU and avoid a ‘soft’ Brexit, according to Andrew Swaffield, Monarch Group C.E.
10th January – AOA appoints new Chief Executive. Karen Dee has been appointed as the AOA’s new Chief Executive, taking over from the outgoing Chief Executive Darren Caplan.
11th January – Global passenger traffic demands is strong says IATA. Results for November 2016 showed strongest demand growth in nine months.
16th January – Airbus CEO sees ‘flying car’ prototype ready by end of year. Airbus plans to test a prototype for a self-piloted flying car as a way of avoiding gridlock on city roads.
24th January – Easyjet highlights weakness in UK currency. Airline says this weakness, plus fuel costs, resulted in a financial effect over the quarter, £35 million worse than predicted.
26th January – British Airways workers to hold more strikes. British Airways workers are set to stage a further six days of strikes in February over a pay dispute.
24th January – New study suggest European consumers are paying higher airfares at congested airports. The full study by SEO Amsterdam Economics & Cranfield University entitled The Impact of Airport Capacity Constraints on Air Fares is available on our website or to download here:
https://www.aci-europe.org/component/downloads/downloads/4883.htmlAn ACI EUROPE synopsis of the study entitled ‘How Airport Capacity Impacts Air Fares’ is available on our website or to download here:
https://www.aci-europe.org/component/downloads/downloads/4884.html
12th January -Government published a consultation on night flight restrictions at the designated airports. Details for this can be seen on the website and here.
24th January – New study suggest European consumers are paying higher airfares at congested airports. (See above in ‘European News’).