Editor’s Highlights
Airport policy was focused on two principal issues in July – changes to international COVID restrictions and de-carbonisation. There were a series of announcements relating to both in the run up to the house rising on 22nd July (NB: return date is 6th September) and the latter is likely to be the main focus of attention in relation to aviation prior to COP26 in Glasgow in November.
The decision that double-vaccinated people no longer have to quarantine after return from amber list countries from 19 July was seen by the industry as a major boost, as was a subsequent simplifying of the associated traffic light system. There have, however, still been some shenanigans surrounding France, Mexico and access to and from the Shengen area of Europe with the cost of PCR tests now the industry’s next target.
On 15 July the Government launched a consultation on its road map to net zero aviation by 2050. The strategy is very much technology focused and resists any immediate restrictions on growth while this is put in place, although five-year reviews are promised. SASIG will be responding to the consultation in early September.
Climate change impacts are at the heart of applications for Judicial Reviews by Uttlesford DC in relation to Stansted and local environmental groups regarding SOU. There is also an ongoing planning inquiry at Bristol and the DCO for Manston is under review by the Secretary of State. CO2 has for now displaced airspace change and noise as the focus of opposition to aviation growth. How long this will continue is unclear because there do appear to be technological solutions for the former but not yet for noise.
Chris Cain
Policy Director
SASIG
Monthly Highlights
8th July – It was announced that double vaccinated people will no longer have to quarantine after return from amber list countries – effective from 19 July. A statement was given in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for Transport on International Travel rules.
15th July – Government launches consultation to achieve net zero aviation by 2050.
15th July – An update to the traffic light system for foreign travel effective from 19 July may be seen here.
21st July – SASIG members meeting/AGM.
Events, Meetings and Conferences
SASIG Meetings
(To note: depending on any restrictions continuing, some of these meetings may be held virtually. It is therefore advised to check with the Secretariat first before making any travel arrangements).
29 September 2021: 10:30-1pm: SASIG full meeting/ afternoon workshop – Westminster Suite, LGA.
15 December 2021: 10:30-1pm: SASIG full meeting/ afternoon workshop – Westminster Suite, LGA
External Conferences (please note: due to the pandemic, some changes have occurred).
2nd September 2021: 2nd International Hydrogen Aviation Conference, Glasgow.
10-12 October 2021: World Routes 2021: Milan, Italy.
W/b: 11 October 2021: ABTA Travel Convention: Virtual meeting.
1-2 December 2021: 9th European Aviation Conference: Heilbronn, Germany
5, 6 & 7 April 2022: Passenger Terminal Expo & Conference: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Paris, France.
18-22 May 2022: Routes Europe: Bergen, Norway.
Parliamentary and Government News
Summer Recess dates for both House of Commons and Lords:
Houses rose on 22nd July 2021 and will return on 6th September 2021
8th July – International Travel
A statement was given in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for Transport on International Travel rules.
15th July – Traffic Light System Update: Foreign Travel
An update to the traffic light system for foreign travel effective from 19 July may be seen here.
Transport Questions: House of Commons:
7th July – Regional Airports
The House was asked to consider the future of regional airports – see here for the debate.
14th July – Transport Decarbonisation
A debate about the publication today of the Government’s transport decarbonisation plan can be seen here.
14th July – Planning & Local Representation
A debate on planning and local representation can be seen here.
19th July – International Travel Rules
The Secretary of State for Transport was asked if he would make a statement on changes to international travel rules – see here.
Transport Questions: House of Lords
1st July– International Travel
A debate following the answer given in the House of Commons on 29 June to an urgent question regarding International Travel can be seen here.
19th July – Transport Decarbonisation
The Statement made in the House of Commons on 14 July was read in the House of Lords.
19th July – Aligning UK and Foreign Entry and Return Requirements
Government was asked what discussions they have had with the governments of countries with (1) low levels of COVID-19 infections, and (2) a traditionally high number of visitors from the UK, to seek to align the requirements for (a) vaccination, and (b) testing on entry and return – see here.
22nd July – International Travel Rules
A debate on a question regarding international travel rules can be seen here.
Parliamentary Questions:
Q.1. Question (26105) asked by Bridget Phillipson (Houghton & Sunderland South) on 2 July 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to provide financial support to the Tees Valley Combined Authority in respect of the costs associated with Teesside Airport”.
A. Robert Courts on 7 July 2021: “We do not comment on the commercial or financial matters of private firms, because this information is commercially sensitive. The Government recognises the challenging circumstances facing the aviation industry because of Covid-19 and firms experiencing difficulties can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor. This support includes the Airport and Ground Operations Scheme which provides eligible commercial airports and ground operators support towards permitted fixed costs subject to certain conditions. These eligible businesses can claim based on the equivalent of their business rates liabilities, or COVID losses, whichever is lower. The Scheme originally opened for applications on 29 January for the 2020/21 financial year. In the March Budget, the Chancellor announced a six month renewal to the scheme from 1 April 2021. The renewed scheme opened for applications on 28 May 2021. £86.9m was awarded in grants under the first round of AGOSS, of which £65.1m was awarded to commercial airports. Applications for support under the second round of AGOSS are currently being considered. We continue to take a flexible approach and keep all policies under review”.
Q.2. Question (HL1654) asked by Baroness Randerson on 1 July 2021: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of recent comments by Sir Howard Davies on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for the need for a third runway at Heathrow; and what plans they have to ask Sir Howard to re-examine the case for a third runway at Heathrow taking into account the impact of (1) changed business practices, (2) greater use of IT on the demand for business travel, and (3) their decision to include aviation emissions in the UK’s (a) carbon budget, and (b) net zero emissions target”.
A. Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 8 July 2021: “The Government have always been clear that Heathrow expansion remains a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on air quality, noise and climate change, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers. The Government will soon be consulting on our ambitious plans to decarbonise aviation in the run up to COP26, setting out how the sector will achieve ‘jet zero’ by 2050”.
Q.3. Question (33328) asked by Jane Stevenson (Wolverhampton North East) on 14 July 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of regional airports on restoring flights to long-haul destinations; and if he will make a statement”.
A. Robert Courts on 19 July 2021: “The government recognises the continued challenges faced by the aviation industry as we look towards reopening international travel further. Ministers and officials engage regularly with the aviation industry, including with regional airports, and remain committed to working collaboratively to reopen international travel in a safe and secure way”.
Q.4. Question (35985) asked by Seema Malhotra (Feltham & Heston) on 19 July 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support airports with annual business rates higher than £8 million”.
A. Robert Courts on 22 July 2021: “The Airport and Ground Operations Scheme provides eligible commercial airports and ground operators support towards permitted fixed costs subject to certain conditions. These eligible businesses can claim based on the equivalent of their business rates liabilities, or COVID losses, whichever is lower, up to the scheme cap.
The cap strikes an appropriate balance between supporting airports in financial distress while protecting the interests of the taxpayer.
In total, we estimate that by the end of September 2021 the air transport sector (airlines, airports and related services) will have benefited from around £7bn of Government support since the start of the pandemic. This includes support through loan guarantees, support for exporters, the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme”.
Q.5. Question (35916) asked by Fleur Anderson (Putney) on 19 July 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the construction of a third runway at Heathrow airport”.
A. Robert Courts on 22 July 2021: “The Government has always been clear that Heathrow expansion remains a private sector project which must meet strict criteria on climate change, air quality, and noise, as well as being privately financed, affordable, and delivered in the best interest of consumers. The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Prime Minister on a wide range of transport matters”.
Q.6. Question (35743) asked by Jeff Smith (Manchester, Withington) on 19 July 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to incorporate in the Government’s forthcoming Aviation Plan the Climate Change Committee (CCC) recommendations of December 2020 to (a) limit the growth in air passenger numbers to 25 per cent or less by 2050, in line with the CCC’s recommended Balanced Net Zero Pathway and (b) introduce a moratorium on airport expansions unless or until the aviation sector has developed low-carbon technologies that are compatible with achieving the Government’s net zero emissions target”.
A. Robert Courts on 23 July 2021: “The Government recognises the critical role that the aviation sector must play in delivering the UK’s net zero commitment. Last week, we published the Transport Decarbonisation Plan and the Jet Zero Consultation which set out our vision for the aviation sector to reach net zero by 2050. Our consultation includes scenarios that achieve our net zero target with a similar level of residual aviation emissions in 2050 as within the CCC’s Balanced Pathway and do so by focussing on new fuels and technology rather than seeking to limit demand for a crucial industry. The Government is clear that the expansion of any airport must meet our climate change obligations. We are proposing to review our Jet Zero Strategy every five years to ensure the aviation sector is on track to achieve net zero by 2050”.
Q.7. Question (35663) asked by Seema Malhotra (Feltham & Heston) on 19 July 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of updating the pricing principles underpinning the economic regulation of Heathrow Airport”.
A. Robert Courts on 23 July 2021: “Economic regulation of Heathrow Airport is carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), independently of the Secretary of State for Transport, in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act 2012. In line with s.19 of that act, the licence granted to Heathrow Airport by the CAA regulates the prices that the Airport may charge to its airline customers. It does this by setting a ‘cap’ on the total revenue the Airport may levy against its customers, expressed on a per passenger basis. The CAA may include whatever conditions it deems necessary or expedient to guard against the risk of the Airport exploiting its significant market power. My Department has no reason to believe that the price control principles of the Act, and the powers granted to the CAA, are inadequate to enable the CAA to satisfy that aim and carry out its functions in line with its duties (as laid out in s.1 of the Act)”.
Q.8. Question (HL1929) asked by Lord West of Spithead on 12 July 2021: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the expected final (1) completion date, and (2) cost, of Crossrail; and what lessons are there, if any, for the HS2 project”.
A. Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 23 July 2021: “Crossrail comes under the remit of the Mayor of London. In August 2020, Crossrail Limited announced that the central section of the railway will open in the first half of 2022. Following the opening of the central section, full services across the Elizabeth line from Reading and Heathrow in the west and between Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east, will be introduced. Crossrail Ltd.’s overall cost forecast of completing the programme is up to £18.9 billion. This includes Network Rail On-Network Costs for the surface works but excludes the new trains and depot”.
Q.9. Question (35662) asked by Seema Malhotra (Feltham & Heston) on 19 July 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to review the powers of the Civil Aviation Authority in response to the impact of covid-19 on the aviation sector”.
A. Robert Courts on 23 July 2021: “We continue to work with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) supporting the response to the pandemic across a range of areas. We have no plans for a comprehensive review of the CAA’s powers. However, there are areas where the pandemic has required changes to the role of the CAA, and others where the Government will keep policy under review. For example, the Government will be consulting later this year on more flexible and modern tools to protect consumers whilst travelling by air, including reforming the CAA’s enforcement powers where airlines breach consumer rights”.
Q.10. Question (35557) asked by Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) on 19 July 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the consultation Jet zero: our strategy for net zero aviation on published on 14 July 2021, what proportion of the aviation sector’s carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere is expected to come from (a) engineered carbon dioxide removal technologies and (b) natural systems, in (i) 2040 and (ii) 2050”.
A. Robert Courts on 22 July 2021: “The Jet Zero Strategy will prioritise in-sector reductions through operational improvements and technological advancements, then seek to address residual carbon emissions through greenhouse gas removals. At this stage, deployment trajectories for different greenhouse gas removal technologies are uncertain. We do not have a breakdown of how much carbon dioxide we expect to be removed through engineered technologies versus natural systems. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is developing policy for the demonstration and deployment of greenhouse gas removals which will help inform our trajectory to net zero aviation by 2050”.
National and Regional News
1st July – Teesside Airport to get extra £10m from public purse. It’s part of a ‘refresh’ of what the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) spends its money on.
1st July – £120million Esken deal for Southend Airport ‘days away’ – see here.
2nd July – Stansted named as Flypop’s first UK base. It’s expected to start services between Stansted and India in the next few months.
2nd July – Travel company Jet2 has begun flying out of Bristol Airport.
2nd July – An article titled: ‘Aviation’s Post-Crisis Recovery Series: London City Airport’ can be seen here.
3rd July – Seven community groups receive grants from Doncaster Sheffield Airport fund. All are within 10-mile radius of airport and not eligible for local authority or national funding.
3rd July – An article in Simple Flying titled: ‘90 Years Of Operations: The Story Of Leeds Bradford Airport’ can be seen here.
3rd July – Southend Airport to receive £20m cash to boost Covid recovery. Esken, which owns the airport, has agreed a loan with US private equity firm Carlyle.
4th July – Tees Valley Mayor says a £10m bail-out for Teesside Airport is “significantly smaller” than financial support provided to other regional airports – see here.
5th July – Heathrow Airport is set to reopen Terminal 3 this month. It’s been closed for departures since April 2020 due to the pandemic.
6th July – A public inquiry to decide on major expansion plans for Bristol Airport will be held in person and online this month – see here.
6th July – New rapid transport link could connect Stansted Airport with Hertfordshire.
7th July – Heathrow Airport to have fast-track lane for people who have had two C-19 jabs. This will speed up their passage through immigration on arrival at airport.
7th July – Uttlesford council applies for court review of airport expansion plan. It wants to stop the airport from increasing its capacity by 8 million passengers per year.
8th July – Gatwick Airport is dealing with its greatest challenge says Henry Smith, MP for Crawley – see here.
8th July – Construction starts on £2million aviation centre at Cornwall Airport Newquay. Bosses say the site will provide horizontal launch service operations for Spaceport Cornwall.
9th July – Politicians claim that Biggleswade area gets ‘pain and no gain’ from Luton Airport flight path decision – see here.
9th July – An article in the Northern Echo claiming that pumping more money into Teesside Airport is ‘folly’ can be seen here.
10th July – Northumberland leader gives verdict on calls to rebrand Newcastle Airport and include Sunderland. He is not in favour of it.
11th July – Southend Airport aims to be carbon neutral by 2027. Airport bosses have unveiled an ambitious plan of action.
12th July – Heathrow passenger numbers remain low as Europe recovers. Just 957,000 people used it in June prompting executives to warn it’s lagging behind European rivals.
12th July – Manchester Airport is ready to officially unveil its new ‘Super Terminal’. The first passengers are set to travel through the major extension this week.
13th July – Luton Airport: 12 countries likely to be added to green travel list this week.
13th July – Heathrow and UK aviation to support economic pivot post-Brexit. According to Centre for Economics and Business Research aviation needs to be at the heart of this pivot.
13th July – Newcastle Airport increases its car park prices again. This is second time in a year.
14th July – New summer 2022 routes coming to Doncaster Sheffield Airport. TUI will operate flights to Faro and Hurghada, Egypt next summer, adding almost 200,000 seats.
14th July – A new training facility next to London City Airport is launched. It will offer the UK’s first post-16 courses tailored to careers in the aviation industry.
15th July – Huge gigafactory plan for Coventry Airport hits major milestone. Planning application has been submitted.
15th July – Holiday operator TUI is set to expand at Doncaster Sheffield Airport with more seats and new routes.
15th July – Heathrow and Gatwick confirmed holidaymakers must still wear masks after 19 July.
15th July – Campaigners fighting plans to extend runway at Southend Airport say their challenge to the granting of planning permission has passed legal and funding milestones.
16th July – London Southend Airport announces new ‘terminal tour’ dates as part of its connecting communities commitment – see here.
16th July – An article in Airport Technology titled: ‘Newquay Airport needs to face surge in growth after 2021’ can be seen here.
19th July – Southampton Airport owner makes ‘net zero’ pledge on direct emissions. He wants to achieve this by the mid-2030s.
20th July – Bristol Airport expansion enquiry begins. Airport hopes to overturn North Somerset Council’s decision to refuse the expansion plans last year.
20th July – London Southend Airport releases annual report.
21st July – Council unveils grounds for High Court challenge in Stansted Airport row. Council lawyers have accused Govt’s Planning Inspectorate of “a serious failure to understand” climate change policy.
21st July – Southend Airport backs calls to bring back iconic air show. It last took place in 2012.
22nd July – Heathrow Airport is to introduce a £5 passenger drop-off charge outside its terminals. This is part of an attempt to claw back income lost due to pandemic.
22nd July – Bristol Airport opens Covid-19 testing services centre. It’s located in the terminal on the first floor with services open to both the passengers and the local community.
23rd July – Bristol Airport’s lawyer has claimed restricting people’s ability to fly would have ‘profound implications for society’ as expansion enquiry begins.
23rd July – An article titled: ‘Investing in seamless travel experiences at Teesside Airport’ can be seen here.
24th July – Southend Airport launches an appeal with the government after plans for a new hotel were rejected.Rochford Council blocked plans for a new 132-bedroom hotel.
25th July – An article titled: ‘What’s changed since Teesside Airport was renamed two years ago’ can be seen here.
25th July – Southend Airport is spearheading a new community forum led by an independent leader to “increase trust, transparency and clarity” over aircraft noise.
26th July – Heathrow Airport says it has lost £2.9 billion due to the pandemic.
27th July – Aviation and energy infrastructure group Esken has concluded its role as strategic partner and operator of Teesside International Airport – see here.
27th July – Luton Airport awarded C-19 certification by CAA and Public Health England.
27th July – ‘Electric Airport’ designation should be sought for Shannon, according to a member of the local authority – see here.
28th July – Tees Valley Mayor introduces new protections to safeguard Teesside Airport for future generations. It includes introduction of referendum before any future sale of airport.
28th July – Stobart pulls out of Teesside International Airport – see here.
28th July – Luton Borough Council defends its quoted £119m loan to its airport company. This follows a challenge by Lib Dems.
28th July – Heathrow route to end after Isle of Man government pulls support. Loganair says flights will end on 11 August after subsidy was removed.
29th July – Labour councillors accuse Esken of ‘jumping ship’ after they withdrew their involvement from Teesside Airport.
29th July – Aer Lingus returns to Bristol Airport. They are to resume flights to/from Dublin.
30th July – Gatwick Airport campaigners accuse Government of using Covid as excuse to continue night-flight policy. Government has decided to extend current night flight numbers and noise limits at Gatwick for a further three years.
30th July – Heathrow and commercial partners team up to mark 75 years of airport operations – see here.
Other Aviation Industry News
1st July – AGS Airports who own Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports pledge to attain net-zero for its direct emissions by the mid-2030s as part of its sustainability strategy.
2nd July – An article in Airport Technology titled: ‘Contactless airport boarding: biometric technology with SITA’ can be seen here.
2nd July – TUI to close base at Edinburgh Airport. This will be from next summer and is a result of the impact of the pandemic.
3rd July – An article in RTE titled: ‘How has air travel changed since the pandemic?’ can be seen here.
5th July – A Cork TD has questioned the Tánaiste on layoffs at Cork Airport. He says it is an issue that will get ‘louder and louder’ in coming months and is also not appropriate.
5th July – An article in Airport Technology titled: ‘Digitalisation is key for the industry’s future: Solutions presented by SITA’ can be seen here.
6th July – IATA unhappy with uncertainty over EC plans for airport slot rules this winter. They’re concerned increased summer capacity will prompt too high a threshold for minimum use levels being set.
8th July – Airports’ cautious welcome as Government changes foreign travel rules. Double vaccinated people no longer having to quarantine after return from amber list countries.
8th July – MAG eyes recovery after pandemic-hit year – see here for details.
9th July – Union warns travellers returning to England face longer airport queues. This is because of additional documentation due to the pandemic.
9th July – Scottish MP says the return of commercial flights to Wick is “one step closer” after securing a meeting with a UK government minister on funding for the airport.
10th July – Jersey Airport masterplan will ‘focus on sustainability’.
10th July – Wizz Air pulls plug on planned Cardiff to Jersey route. They have not given any reasons why though.
10th July – An article in Simple Flying titled: ‘The Focus For Air Transport IT In The Recovery Stage’ can be seen here.
11th July – As aviation recovers, airports need flexibility in setting airport charges, says ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira – see here.
11th July – Limerick Chamber ‘heartened’ by Tánaiste’s support for regional airports.
11th July – Airport and airline bosses ask Sturgeon for quarantine-free travel in Scotland. They want the same rules as England for quarantine-free travel from amber-list countries.
13th July – An article in Airport Technology titled: ‘EU ponders short-haul flight ban’ is here.
13th July – Services at Shannon Airport to double ahead of resumption of ‘non-essential’ international travel. A total of 72 weekly flights will operate through it up to end of October.
14th July – Economy faces €392m hit if Dublin runway restrictions remain, consultants warn. They say planning limits night flights and curtails usage time.
15th July – Government launches consultation to achieve net zero aviation by 2050.
15th July – Dublin Airport loses 252,000 flights to pandemic. An average of 228 flights a day are operating out of Dublin, which is 69% less than a corresponding period in 2019.
15th July – An article in Airport Technology titled: ‘How technology can cut airport queues’ can be seen here.
15th July – An update to the traffic light system for foreign travel effective from 19 July may be seen here.
16th July – HIAL ATC set to strike over centralisation plans. HIAL is planning to implement new technology which would allow these operations to be run from a facility in Inverness.
17th July – An article titled: ‘A remarkable day’: Looking back at the opening of Cork Airport can be seen here. The airport has now been open for 60 years.
19th July – Ireland rolls out Digital COVID certificates today. This is in line with rest of EU.
19th July – Shannon Airport welcomes €920,000 in funding. Says it’s a step in the right direction.
21st July – An article from ACI in Airport World about how Europe’s airports are faring one year and counting on from the outbreak of COVID-19 can be seen here. ACI also release new tool to assist airports with capacity planning – see here.
21st July – UK aviation firms including MAG lose court bid over traffic lights system. Judges say the Government acted lawfully.
21st July – An article in The Moodie Davitt Report titled ‘Opinion: New challenges (and opportunities) from the ‘New Normal’ of travel’ can be seen here.
22nd July – Support for Belfast International Airport’s £15million investment plans – see here.
23rd July – Shannon Airport launches campaign to welcome tourists back.
23rd July – An article titled: ‘Cleaner, Greener Airports: Making Aviation More Sustainable – VINCI Airports’ can be seen here.
24th July – Airlines and airports have busiest weekend since start of pandemic – see here. But passengers report ‘total chaos’ at airports with C-19 checks and lack of staff blamed.
25th July – IATA disagrees with European Commission decision on slots.
25th July – Free parking at Shannon Airport has been proposed by the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council as part of a bid to revive tourism and increase traffic through the airport.
26th July – Government apologises for weekend airport ‘chaos’ – see here and here.
26th July – Guernsey Airport runway extension unlikely to happen.
26th July – An article in Airport World about how airlines and airports are continuing to look at new routes despite the pandemic, can be seen here.
26th July – MPs launch inquiry exploring the impact of C-19 on Scottish airports. Focus is around the airports, the impacts of C-19, the local community and environmental concerns.
28th July – Support for Belfast International Airport’s £15m investment plans. Extension will include an enhanced security area and a refresh to the front of the terminal building.
29th July – Restrictions on new runway threaten to slow DAA’s recovery – see here.
29th July – An article in Airport Technology titled: ‘Sustainable aviation fuel: Working towards a greener future’ can be seen here.
30th July – Changes to Covid restrictions ‘may not be enough to boost the travel industry’ say airport bosses – see here.
SASIG Library Additions
The guest speaker at the SASIG AGM meeting held on 21 July 2021 was Andrew Chadwick from Connected Places Catapult and his presentation can be found in the members’ area of our website.