Editorial
Monthly Highlights
Forthcoming Events (SASIG Meetings & External Conferences)
Parliamentary News
Parliamentary Questions
Government News
London & South East News
Regional News
National & Other Industry News
European News
SASIG Website Additions (June)
EDITORIAL
And they say: “a week is a long time in politics”; now we know why!
With no end to the uncertainty as to what form Brexit will take in sight, Sterling dropping to 30 year lows against the US$ (this is significant as aviation fuel is quoted in US$) and EU relocations for most of the UK airlines large and small (IAG, easyJet, bmi Regional) likely if we do not remain a member of the European Single Sky agreement, Brexit has suddenly replaced – for the next few months at least – a new South East runway as the dominant political issue concerning the industry. The announcement by the Secretary of State in Transport Questions on Thursday 30 June that a decision on the location of a the runway was being delayed until at least October provides confirmation this:
“I had hoped the we would be able to announce the decision this summer.
“Clearly any announcement on the airport capacity would have to be made when the house is in session.
“Being realistic, given recent events, I can’t now foresee any announcement until October.”
For an industry that is notorious for failing to speak with one voice, retention of access to the European Single Sky may ironically be one of those rare things the whole industry is actually able to agree upon and can therefore uniformly support – the other is APD (although the consensus in that case does not extend to what to do about it).
The Brexit Referendum always represented another potential ‘shock’ to an industry that has had more than its fair share of them over the last 10-15 years. The difference this time is that previous ‘shocks’ were natural, economic or terrorism related and global in scale; this one is entirely self-inflicted and focused solely on the UK. The greater irony is that prior to 23rd June the UK aviation sector had been enjoying a period of sustained passenger growth, not just in the South East but also at regional airports, and was again helping to deliver economic success both directly and indirectly. Now no-one really knows what the future holds, except it is unlikely to be as propitious and if outside the Single European Sky the retrenchment in UK aviation is likely be substantial.
Heathrow Airport has continued to make the case for their runway on the grounds that if Brexit implies less reliance on EU markets for trade, the UK will need a global hub and the greater range of long haul services that this implies even more than before. Conversely, Gatwick continues to argue a Heathrow runway is undeliverable politically – and for as long as Westminster continues to indulge in its own Game of Thrones (i.e. a minimum of another 4 months), they maybe right. Thereafter, a new Prime Minister might want to help kick start the economy with some major infrastructure schemes, in which case the time for Government getting behind a new runway may finally have arrived. But it is fair to say the industry is not holding its breath on that one.
As a sign of the importance of Brexit to aviation, or possibly just to participate in the drama Whitehall unwittingly finds itself a party to, DfT has called an ‘extraordinary’ meeting of the Aviation External Advisory Group on 8 July. The Head of Secretariat will attend for SASIG and report back to Members shortly thereafter.
Chris Cain,
Head of Secretariat
MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS
Setting aside Brexit and the potential fall out that may have on the timing of a decision on a new runway, the most significant policy developments in the sector in June were:
– The close of the CAA consultation on Airspace Change decision-making
– DfT run focus groups on Night Noise; and
– Confirmation from DfT at the 20 June EAG meeting that the review of the Aviation Policy Framework would follow its own 18-24 month timetable unrelated to the schedule for making a runway decision or publication of a National Policy Statement. More details can be found in the papers tabled for the SASIG meeting on 8 July.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
SASIG FUTURE MEETINGS
8th July: Next full SASIG Meeting – LGA, London
8th September: Next TWG-Surface Access – LGA, London
22nd September: Next TWG-Environment, Planning & Airspace – LGA, London
6th October (AM): Next TWG-Airports, Cities & Economic Growth – LGA, London (preceding CAG meeting)
6th October (PM): Next CAG meeting – LGA, London (following on from TWG meeting on same day)
4th November: Full SASIG Meeting – LGA, London
EXTERNAL MEETINGS
Thursday 8th July: DfT Aviation External Advisory Group – Extraordinary General Meeting (Head of Secretariat attending for SASIG)
Tuesday 12th July: DEFRA Noise Team/Stakeholder Meeting – 2-3.30pm, Room 806, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.
CONFERENCES
13th July 2016: The Future for Transport Policy in the North – Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum. (Please note this seminar will be held in Central Manchester). Following the establishment of Transport for the North (TfN), which is set to become a statutory body by 2017, this seminar will provide an opportunity to discuss the development of transport policy for the North of England and the next steps for regional devolution of powers more widely.
5th Sept 2016: Implementing Airport Expansion in the South East – Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum.
26th September 2016: Runways UK 2016, London. (Please note this event has been cancelled).
17th-18th November 2016: 5th European Aviation Conference: Istanbul, Turkey. Changing Hub Dynamics: New Models and Airlines Evolution. This conference investigates the changing dynamics of hubs, both from airport and airline points of view.
EVENTS
Wednesday 13th July: British Board of General Aviation (BBGA) House of Commons Reception. The event provides an opportunity to meet with Ministers, MPs and other Government officials who support and help in the endeavour to make General Aviation work for the economy of UK and Europe.
Week of 11th-17th July: Farnborough Air Show. The biennial Farnborough air show is the year’s biggest aviation event. Impressive flying and static displays, four large exhibition halls and dozens of chalets make this one of the must-attend spectaculars.
24th-27th September 2016: The 22nd World Route Development Forum, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. In 2016 World Routes will return to China, hosted by Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.
PARLIAMENTARY NEWS
Transport Questions – 30 June 2016
Question 5 on the Order Paper: Regional Airports
Callum McCaig (Aberdeen South) (SNP)
Q. Whether he plans to review the effectiveness of the public service obligation for regional airports. [905572]
The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick McLoughlin)
A. The Government will soon update their aviation policy framework. As part of this update, the Government will consider the role that public service obligations can play in serving regional airports, which are a vital economic and social lifeline for all parts of the United Kingdom.
Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough) (Lab)
Q. Does the Secretary of State agree that the sustainability and development of regional airports could be much enhanced by the increase in connectivity inherent in the additional capacity plans for the south-east? Given that such connectivity will deliver economic growth throughout the UK, what assessment has he made of the efficacy of any engagement with the regional airports in ensuring that once a decision is made, the proposals in the recommended option of Heathrow will deliver the desired development of our regional airports?
Mr McLoughlin
A. I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his position. I have been in this post for four years, and he is the fifth shadow Secretary of State I have seen and, I think, the 10th person to hold the Labour transport brief in nine years. I congratulate him on that. I also thank the hon. Member for Nottingham South (Lilian Greenwood) for the way in which she conducted herself while she was doing the job. Although at the moment she is sitting on the Back Benches, I am sure that that is only a temporary measure while certain things are sorted out.
If I may now come to the question—I have almost forgotten what it was—I think we all agree that regional airports play a vital role in connectivity. One of the issues about regional airports—this was alluded to in a previous question—is their accessibility to the London airport system. We have to consider such issues and some later questions may address them.
Questions 8 & 10 on the Order Paper: Airport Capacity
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley) (Con)
Q8. What plans he has to expand airport capacity. [905576]
Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)
Q10. When he plans to make a decision on the construction of an additional runway in south-east England. [905578]
The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Patrick McLoughlin)
A. I had hoped that we would be able to announce a decision on airport capacity this summer. Clearly, any announcement on airport capacity would have to be made when the House was in session. Being realistic, given recent events, I cannot now foresee that there will be an announcement until at least October. We aim to publish the further analysis on air quality soon. Separately, promoters have announced undertakings that would increase the compensation available for residents living near the airports and the connectivity between other UK airports. The Government are fully committed to delivering the important infrastructure projects that they have set out, including the delivery of runway capacity on the timetable set out by the Davies report.
Mr Evans
Q. It is another boring day at Westminster, and I was rather hoping that the Secretary of State might inject some excitement into it for me. Nobody can accuse him of rushing this decision. Post-Brexit, with a number of countries banging on the door of the UK to do trade deals, does he agree that increasing airport capacity at London City, London Heathrow and London Gatwick will be vital to British businesses throughout the UK?
Mr McLoughlin
A. I would have liked to be in the position of asking the House to make a decision, and endorsing a decision. We are not going to be in that position, and we have to be realistic. My hon. Friend may regard it as a boring day in the House of Commons, but it is certainly not a boring day in Westminster.
Valerie Vaz
Q. The Secretary of State will know that I am going to make the case for Birmingham airport. Is there still time, whenever the report comes out, for Birmingham airport to make the case for the 250,000 jobs that could flow from a second runway there?
Mr McLoughlin
A. Looking at the hon. Lady’s question, I did not realise that she was going to mention Birmingham, because her question specifically talks about south-east England. To the best of my knowledge, Birmingham has not moved since I knew it as a boy, 20 miles away from where I lived. Birmingham airport is a fantastic airport, which serves an important role as far as Birmingham and the midlands are concerned, and it has just had a runway extension.
Sir Alan Haselhurst (Saffron Walden) (Con)
Q. Does my right hon. Friend accept that even if he had been able to make an announcement on this subject today, the earliest that extra runway capacity could be provided would be 2023, and at worst probably 2030? Does that not point up the need to improve connectivity to Stansted, which is the only airport in the London area with the capacity to deal with the strain of extra demand?
Mr McLoughlin
A. That is one of those questions that one cannot really disagree with, and my right hon. Friend has a habit of asking such questions in Transport questions. Although I agree with the point he makes, the delivery of what he is asking for is somewhat more difficult than he suggests.
Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside) (Lab/Co-op)
Q. Yet more dithering on the decision whether to expand hub capacity at Heathrow will harm the regions of this country and the United Kingdom. What recommendation will the Secretary of State make to the next Prime Minister?
Mr McLoughlin
A. Well, one step at a time. If the hon. Lady does not mind my saying so, she is assuming a number of events, which I am not going to do. In all seriousness, I would say to the hon. Lady, who is Chair of the Transport Committee, that this is a very important and big decision for the United Kingdom and it is not an easy one. The simple fact is that whichever option we choose will impact on people’s lives. It is therefore right to make sure we do all the preparatory work on air quality and the other issues. However, I very much hope that a decision can be made later this year.
Crispin Blunt (Reigate) (Con)
Q. It is inconceivable that either the Home Secretary or the former Mayor of London would at this time put their constituency interests ahead of the national interest. I know that had the Secretary of State sought an assurance from the former Mayor of London that he would support this decision if the Government went ahead with it, he would have received it. Did he seek such an assurance, and if not, why not? This is not in the national interest, and it is not in the interests of people around Gatwick who will have to live with further uncertainty.
Mr McLoughlin
A. I am very sorry that my hon. Friend is disappointed by my announcement this morning. As I have said, however, given the parliamentary timetable and when the House will rise, I do not see how it would be possible to come to the House for a statement with a recommendation and possibly a vote before the summer recess.
Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South) (Lab)
Q. I thank the Secretary of State for his earlier comments, but his answer is exacerbating the profound uncertainty about the future of essential transport projects, including HS2 and a new runway at Heathrow. Hundreds of thousands of jobs and apprenticeships are in the balance. Does he not understand that delaying these plans will add to the wider economic shock that was triggered last week, and that public and private investment in our transport networks must be delivered?
Mr McLoughlin
A. We are now back on familiar ground and I do not need to repeat what I said earlier. The simple fact is that I am very proud of the investment that this Government are putting into infrastructure. Infrastructure investment is 50% higher than it was during the last Parliament, and it is much larger than the amount put in by the previous Labour Government, so this Government are very committed to infrastructure investment. The Hon. Lady talks about airport capacity, but there were airport capacity issues during the 13 years her party was in government, when it did nothing.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
1. Q. Question (38316) asked by Anna Turley (Redcar) on 24th May 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect of expansion at (a) Heathrow and (b) Gatwick Airport on the number of jobs that will be created in the North East by (i) 2030 and (ii) 2050”.
A. Robert Goodwill on 1st June 2016: “The Government is currently considering the large amount of very detailed analysis contained in the Airports Commission’s final report. The Government is not providing a running commentary on this work and nor would it be appropriate to outline specific pieces of evidence before an announcement. Any work to inform an announcement will be set out in subsequent publications and associated consultation”.
2. Q. Question (39708) asked by Andrew Rosindell (Romford) on 7th June 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will estimate the cost to the EU economy of strikes by air traffic controllers across Europe in 2014 and 2015”.
A. Robert Goodwill on 14th June 2016: “The Government has made no such estimate and does not have comprehensive data on how airlines adjusted their schedules during the strikes or the impacts on passengers”.
3. Q. Question (39997) asked by Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield) on 8th June 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to engage with the European Aviation Safety Authority task force assessing the risk of collision between drones and aircraft”.
A. Robert Goodwill on 15th June 2016: “The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority have regular interaction with the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) on the development of drone safety regulations. This includes engagement on the EASA task force studying the risk of collision between drones and aircrafts, which we expect will be consulting more formally across Member States this summer”.
4. Q. Question (40016) asked by Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield) on 8th June 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 12 April 2016 to Question 32352, whether the memorandum of understanding between the Home Office, the Civil Aviation Authority and the police has been agreed”.
A. Robert Goodwill on 15th June 2016: “I can confirm that the memorandum of understanding between the Department for Transport, the Home Office, the Civil Aviation Authority and the police has been signed and is operational”.
5. Q. Question (39892) asked by Jim Shannon (Strangford) on 8th June 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make representations to Ryanair on the cost of amending boarding passes and other travel documents”.
A. Robert Goodwill on 14th June 2016: “The Government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) continue to emphasise to the airlines the importance of compliance with ticket transparency obligations, ensuring that terms and conditions (including any administration fees and charges) are clear to passengers when they choose between airlines. To enhance consumer protection in this area, the CAA will start work on unfair contract terms with the airlines this summer, in accordance with the CAA’s Strategic Plan 2016-2021. The work will include a review of the airlines’ terms and conditions (Conditions of Carriage) with the aim of ensuring the rights and obligations of the consumers and businesses are fair and balanced and consumers are not being penalised by unfair contract terms. The administration fees the industry currently charges are part of the terms and conditions and as such, will form a part of this work. The Government supports this work and will follow the progress with interest”.
6. Q. Question (40093) asked by Rebecca Long Bailey (Salford & Eccles) on 9th June 2016: “To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to publish the Government’s response to the discussion paper on options for supporting English regional airports from the potential impacts of air passenger duty devolution, published in July 2015”.
A. Damian Hinds on 14th June 2016: “The Government is carefully considering the responses received to the discussion paper on options to support English regional airports from the potential impacts of air passenger duty devolution and will respond in due course”.
7. Q. Question (40330) asked by Adam Afriyie (Windsor) on 13th June 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to assess the potential cost of relocating the Lakeside Energy from Waste Facility in the event of a decision being made to permit the construction of the North West Runway at Heathrow Airport”.
A. Robert Goodwill on 21st June 2016: “On 14 December 2015, the Government formally announced that it accepted the case for airport expansion in the South-East and agreed with the Airports Commission’s shortlist of options. The Government also decided to undertake a package of further work which it anticipates will conclude over the summer. This has included further work to help develop the best possible package of measures for all the shortlisted schemes to mitigate the impacts on local people and the environment.
The decision on a preferred scheme is of huge importance and the Government continues to consider the detailed analysis contained in the Airports Commission’s final report before taking any decisions on next steps. The costs associated with the Lakeside Energy from Waste Plant were considered in the Airports Commission’s assessment of land acquisition costs in the report “Cost and Commercial Viability: Cost and Revenue Identification Update Heathrow Airport North West Runway”.
Decisions have not yet been taken on a preferred scheme. However, if the Government was minded to support the North-West runway at Heathrow, the planning and costs of moving the Energy from Waste Plant would be a matter for the airport to take forward with the owners of the site”.
8. Q. Question (41172) asked by Anna Turley (Redcar) on 24th June 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure airport expansion at (a) Heathrow and (b) Gatwick Airport will benefit the UK steel industry”.
A. Robert Goodwill on 29th June 2016: “The Government’s steel procurement guidance sets out how government buyers should source steel in a more strategic and transparent way and will help to ensure that UK manufacturers are in the best possible place to react to tenders for major procurements when they arise. We would encourage companies to adopt the guidance where possible in their own purchasing activities. Airports are privately owned companies and all of the promoters have proposed privately-funded schemes. It would be for the airport to procure the materials they need as these are privately financed and developed projects”.
9. Q. Question (41173) asked by Anna Turley (Redcar) on 24th June 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, to what extent he plans a decision on airport expansion in the South East will take account of potential economic benefits outside of London and the South East”.
A. Robert Goodwill on 29th June 2016: “Our global connections are crucial for British business and benefit the whole country. The economic benefits to the UK as a whole, not just London and the South East, will be taken into consideration when making a decision on a preferred scheme for airport expansion, alongside a range of other relevant evidence”.
10. Q. Question (41425) asked by Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield) on 28th June 2016: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for (a) the UK aviation sector and (b) his Department’s aviation policies of the outcome of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU”.
A. Answer pending.
GOVERNMENT NEWS
24th June – David Cameron quits as British Prime Minister after EU Referendum. David Cameron has announced he will resign as prime minister after the UK voted to leave the European Union in a historic referendum, with his successor in place by October.
LONDON AND SOUTH EAST NEWS
1st June – London City Airport refused planning permission for £50M Crossrail station. London City Airport CEO describes TfL’s refusal to give £50M Crossrail station the go ahead, “mindboggling.”
2nd June – Gatwick produces Final Action Plan to implement Independent Review of Arrivals. Gatwick Airport has produced a Final Action Plan in response to the recommendations of the Independent Arrivals Review which was commissioned to help address the issue of aircraft noise for local residents.
2nd June – Taxi drivers hold ‘unofficial’ protest at Luton Airport – and more are set to come. The protest comes shortly after Luton Airport handed a long term contract with local drivers to operate at the airport over to London-based firm Addison Lee.
7th June – Gatwick Board writes to the Prime Minister setting out eight new pledges guaranteeing Britain a new runway by 2025. On behalf of the Board and Shareholders of Gatwick Airport Limited, Chairman Sir Roy McNulty has today written to the Prime Minister setting out a series of pledges which offer a road map to delivering a new runway for Britain.
7th June – Stop Stansted Expansions predicts massive compensation claims over airport growth. The pressure group claims the airport faces legal action on behalf of “thousands” of local residents still waiting for redress in respect of devaluation of their property caused by expansion.
7th June – Luton Airport border chaos as thunderstorm brings down computer system leaving passengers stranded. Dozens of border control guards were left unable to log into their computers after a flash storm passed over the airport and triggered a power surge.
8th June – Transport secretary warns Heathrow Airport third runway decision may be delayed again. Residents living near Heathrow Airport could be forced to wait until September to find out whether a third runway will go ahead.
9th June – Stansted Airport prepares for summer rush with programme of improvements. Improvements to customer service and security at Stansted Airport are under way as part of a multi-million-pound programme of projects ahead of the main summer getaway.
9th June – London City Airport is to open new departure gates. Will open this month, to provide more space, seats, choice and more comfort, with a new bar, café and spa.
12th June – BA plane makes unscheduled landing at Heathrow 30 minutes after take-off. Domestic flight BA1340 to Leeds Bradford Airport had to turn around as the captain requested a priority landing following a “technical issue”.
13th June – Pothole closes runway at Gatwick Airport. Flights delayed and diverted while repairs were carried out.
13th June – Passenger numbers soar as London Luton Airport records busiest ever day. The latest figures reveal a 17.6 percent growth in passenger numbers during May, coinciding with its busiest day – 27 May – on record.
13th June – Heathrow comes to Liverpool in big push to get third runway. The airport has taken a stand in Exhibition Centre Liverpool for the duration of IFB2016.
14th June – Record breaking May at Stansted as passenger numbers soar. The airport enjoyed another record breaking month with over 2.1 million passengers in May 2016.
14th June – Gatwick marks busiest-ever May by opening new Pier 1. This facility houses an entirely new baggage system for the South Terminal and state-of-the-art passenger gate rooms with views across the runway.
15th June – Inaction on Heathrow expansion could jeopardise growth of Northern Powerhouse. The Government’s ambitions to transform the North of England into a Northern Powerhouse are at risk unless they take action on airport expansion, Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye has warned.
17th June – Stansted Airport agrees to consider compensation for homes hit by expansion. MAG has confirmed it will now consider making reparations for those householders who can prove their property has been devalued by the airport expanding from eight million passengers per annum (mppa) to 15m a year, known as Phase 2.
19th June – Heathrow capacity restraints are costing Scotland £890million a year. Research finds that a third runway at Heathrow would bring millions more in trade to Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow.
19th June – Gatwick to Heathrow railway line and tunnels under M25 could be built to ease congestion. A radical list of proposals has been drawn up by Highways England for the DfT.
20th June – Aeromexico boost for Heathrow. A sixth weekly flight between Heathrow and Mexico City joins their schedule this month for the summer, running until October.
20th June – Businesses take case for Gatwick expansion to No. 10. Business leaders from 36 organisations in the South East are taking a letter to 10 Downing Street arguing the case for expansion at Gatwick Airport. They said a second runway would create tens of thousands of jobs and add £1.7bn a year to the local economy.
21st June – Brexit would leave London isolated says London City Airport boss. Declan Collier, who also sits as president on the world board of Airports Council International, has warned that a Leave vote this week would sever ties the industry’s ties with the continent.
21st June – Record number of Dreamliners improves Heathrow airlines’ noise. Heathrow is on track to become first large European airport free of oldest and noisiest aircraft.
23rd June – Heathrow Airport presses expansion case as passengers pour in. The number of passengers passing through its terminals is set to climb 0.7% to 75.5 million.
24th June – London Heathrow releases statement on result of EU referendum. It says that with today’s result, the case for expansion at Heathrow is stronger than ever before.
24th June – Decision on 2nd runway set to be delayed due to EU referendum result. A decision on whether or not a second runway should be built at Gatwick Airport is likely to be delayed again, due to the result of the EU Referendum.
24th June – EU referendum: Heathrow decision left up in the air. If Boris Johnson is the new PM, that may kill off Heathrow’s chances. Rival Gatwick is very much back in the game.
25th June – London Gatwick welcomes first service from Tianjin Airlines. The airline becomes the fourth Chinese carrier (and sixth in all) to offer non-stop flights between London and China.
27th June – Gatwick CEO: “It is now clearer than ever that only Gatwick can deliver the new runway Britain needs.” Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate will tell business leaders at the National Infrastructure Forum annual conference that it is now clearer than ever that only Gatwick can deliver the runway capacity Britain urgently requires.
27th June – New leadership team at London Stansted, unveiled. Airport today announced a number of changes to strengthen its senior management team and support the continued growth of the airport following the recent appointment of new CEO, Andrew Cowan.
30th June – Heathrow responds to Government announcement that next PM will make decision on third runway. John Holland-Kaye, the airport’s Chief Executive, said that a third runway must be a part of the Government’s Brexit plan.
REGIONAL NEWS
1st June – Dublin Airport is first airport globally to map runway and airfield with Google Street View. In partnership with Google, Dublin Airport is offering a 360 degree street level virtual tour of its runway system and airfield areas.
1st June – Teesside’s airport is ‘a key asset’ to the region, says Lord Heseltine. But a new report says owners Peel are only prepared to commit to airport for next five years.
1st June – Flybe has reason to celebrate first birthday at Cardiff Airport. Figures released today, the first anniversary of Flybe opening its two aircraft base at airport, show that 334,000 passengers flew with Flybe from Cardiff over the last 12 months.
1st June – Funding list for Prestwick Airport space hub plan. Plans to create a space hub around airport have received a fresh funding package of £240,000 from local government and economic development authorities.
1st June – Turkish Airlines doubles flights between Birmingham Airport and Istanbul. Airline started flying from Birmingham in 2008 with 5 services a week and now operates 14.
2nd June – Flybe aircraft declares mid-air emergency. Flight to Manchester forced to make U-turn and return to Aberdeen after passenger fell ill on board.
2nd June – Birmingham Airport provides backing for Gatwick expansion. Heathrow expansion could inhibit growth of other airports including Birmingham says its CEO.
2nd June – Edinburgh Chief Executive calls for tax cut. Gordon Dewar restates his backing for the Scottish Government’s plans to halve air passenger duty (APD) from 2018.
2nd June – Leeds Bradford Airport agrees London rail deal. Airport has agreed a deal for passengers on British Airways flights to Heathrow Terminal 5 to travel for free on the Heathrow Express rail link to central London throughout June and July.
2nd June – Yorkshire Tiger adds extra buses to its Leeds Bradford Airport service. Tony Hallwood, LBA’s aviation development director, said: “This is an important link to and from airport which is really appreciated and well used by both leisure and business passengers”.
2nd June – Jet 2 begin flights from Leeds Bradford to Costa Almeria, Spain and Halkidiki in Greece. Are the only operators to fly to these destinations from LBA.
3rd June – Blue Air launches Liverpool/Cluj service. Bucharest-based carrier Blue Air has launched flights between Liverpool airport and Romania’s second largest city.
6th June – Bristol Airport car park set for major expansion. Wants to expand its silver zone car park to create extra 3,650 spaces, which it says will be used during the summer months.
6th June – A vote for Brexit would be a blow to Northern Ireland’s airports, it’s been claimed. Loss of EU hub status ‘would make it cheaper for carriers to operate out of Dublin and also drive passengers over the border due to loss of compensation for delayed flights’.
7th June – Luton-Waterford service scrapped this week. VLM Airlines to end its Waterford-London Luton service after a shock announcement this week.
7th June – Southampton Airport is to charge £1 dropping off fee. The fee is to be charged from September, for passengers who want to be dropped off near the main terminal.
7th June – Drop off fee rise concerns at Aberdeen Airport. Two councillors have raised their concerns with an airport about a controversial drop-off fee for drivers doubling in price.
9th June – Edinburgh airport starts 1st stage of consultation to get more RNAV routes in place by summer 2018. Edinburgh has put out a consultation (ends 12th September) of the first phase of a process of getting more airspace changes.
10th June – Passenger growth has continued at Liverpool John Lennon Airport throughout 2016. A series of extra flights chartered to take football fans to the Europa League final last month helped boost numbers.
10th June – Boost for the north as first direct China flight outside London launches. The four times a week Hainan Airlines service to Beijing is being hailed as a significant boost for the region and the government’s ‘Northern Powerhouse’ ambitions.
12th June – Belfast City Airport has been renamed in honour of star striker Kyle Lafferty. The move – for one day only – came as the Northern Ireland team prepare to kick off their Euro 2016 campaign against Poland.
13th June – Aberdeen Airport passenger numbers fall 10% in a year. Passenger numbers have dipped at Aberdeen International Airport in contrast to rising footfall at other airports.
13th June – Glasgow Airport reports record May for passengers. Nearly 830,000 passengers travelled through its doors last month – an increase of 5.5% on the same period a year ago.
13th June – Norwich Airport becomes one of the first UK airports to sign Autism Charter. The Autism Charter is a document which has been produced in collaboration with people with autism and provides a framework for making venues autism friendly.
13th June – Guernsey Deputy calls for airport runway expansion. Vice President of the Economic Development Committee has always been a supporter of a longer runway and is now taking action by preparing detailed proposals which will be brought before the States.
14th June – New airline Volotea launches Mediterranean flights to Majorca from Southampton Airport. The airline will operate two flights a week to the Spanish island of Majorca after it picked Southampton as its first UK airport.
15th June – Cardiff Airport will not slash Air Passenger Duty. Ministers have confirmed they have scrapped the idea of letting Wales slash Air Passenger Duty at Cardiff Airport – a move which would have cost Bristol and the region £843 million and more than 1,500 jobs.
17th June – Manchester Airport in UK trials zero emission ground handling equipment. Manchester Airport has participated in a one-month demonstration of new equipment that will help reduce carbon emissions, thereby improving air quality during aircraft turnarounds.
17th June – Passenger numbers are soaring at East Midlands Airport. There is a 4.5 per cent increase on the same month last year and marks a six-month period of continuous growth.
17th June – Liverpool John Lennon Airport creates unique flight search engine for its website. From today, passengers can access a fully bespoke Skyscanner flight search engine application within its site, helping passengers find the lowest priced air fares on departing flights.
20th June – Manchester Airport CEO rubbishes claims that Heathrow expansion is crucial to Northern Powerhouse. Has hit back at Heathrow CEO saying Manchester is an international airport in its own right with many direct long-haul routes.
22nd June – New shuttle bus service to be launched between Cornwall Airport Newquay and Truro. It is aiming to make access between the city and the airport cheaper and more convenient for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly residents and visitors.
22nd June – Record numbers revealed at Doncaster Airport. More than 200,000 passengers travelled from the airport over April/May this year.
23rd June – Virgin Atlantic is to increase number of flights from Belfast to Orlando. The airline announces plans to double the number of direct flights from four to eight next year.
27th June – Cornwall Newquay Airport announce three new holiday destinations for 2017. These are Dubrovnik, Naples and Venice and will be operated by Newmarket Holidays.
30th June – easyjet today announces two new routes from Newcastle International Airport. They are launching routes to Berlin and Las Palmas beginning 1st November which are expected to carry over 36,000 passengers in the first year of operation alone.
NATIONAL AND OTHER INDUSTRY NEWS
1st June – Brexit could benefit Irish aviation industry, says Aer Lingus boss. Stephen Kavanagh said airports such as Dublin could take business away from the UK if a ‘Leave’ vote makes it harder for passengers to enter and exit the country.
1st June – AOA responds to media reports on disruptive passengers. AOA responds to recent media reports that 442 passengers have been arrested by police on suspicion of being drunk on a plane or at an airport in the last two years.
1st June – Brexit could cost UK tourism £4.1bn a year, claims study. A third of travellers from Germany, Italy and Spain – and a quarter from France – would be less inclined to travel to the UK according to the study published today by Travelzoo and Bournemouth University.
1st June – Easyjet takes delivery of first 186-seat A320. Until now, the airline’s A320s have been configured with 180 seats.
3rd June – Airbus says A320neo issues to be resolved by mid-year. Airbus expects delays in deliveries of this aircraft to be resolved by mid-year and the problems to be forgotten within months, the head of the planemaker said today.
2nd June – BATA comment on CAA annual airline statistics for 2015. CE of BATA says UK airlines are a success story and an important industry directly employing over 75,000 people and contributing to hundreds of thousands of other jobs across the economy.
3rd June – Deadline looms for tender for Aran Islands air services. Government re-advertised tender it cancelled in controversial circumstances in 2015.
3rd June – Airline profits to hit $39bn amid low oil prices. Airlines are expected to make a record breaking profit in 2016, according to the latest financial forecast from IATA.
8th June – Flybe challenges PM on airport regional funding. In speech at British/Irish Airports Expo, CEO asks government to stop ignoring the importance of regional connectivity in its aspirations to create a ‘Northern Powerhouse’.
9th June – ‘Housing and airports don’t mix. There’s anger at plans for 350 new homes on airport site. Campaigners fighting to save Teesside’s airport have hit out at plans to build 350 homes as well as business and leisure facilities at the site.
10th June – Flybe aiming to rival BA with flights from Aberdeen to Heathrow. Plan hinges on whether a breakthrough can be achieved over access charge negotiations between Flybe and Heathrow.
10th June – Ryanair makes Forbes Magazine Best Airline list. Ryanair has made it onto Forbes business magazines top 10 list of the biggest airlines in the world, coming in at No. 9.
15th June – Airbus Chief says A350 delivery goal a challenge. Airbus faces a challenge to meet delivery targets for the A350 this year due to problems with suppliers said CEO Fabrice Bregier.
16th June – Leading aviation figures from easyjet, Virgin and Ryanair, support staying in Europe. There is little doubt senior aviation figures support staying in the EU, although most have refrained from comment.
18th June – Clampdown on hidden airline fees is announced by aviation watchdog. The Civil Aviation Authority will assess whether airlines present costs in an ‘open and clear’ way.
20th June – Jonathon Hinkles returns to Loganair. At the end of June he will return as managing director re-joining the airline after four years at Virgin Atlantic, where he was vice-president of operations and crewing.
24th June – British Airways owner issues profit warning after Brexit. IAG has issued a profit warning after British voters chose to leave the European Union. It came as the company’s share price fell 19% to 425.6p.
24th June – CAA Statement on EU referendum vote. There will be no immediate change to civil aviation regulation nor the CAA’s role in the EU and the European Aviation Safety Agency.
24th June – easyjet makes Government appeal following EU referendum result. It says its initial focus will be to accelerate discussions with UK and EU governments and regulators to ensure that the UK remains part of the single EU aviation market.
24th June – Bmi regional could relocate outside the UK. The airline said its continued business domicile as a UK entity is less than clear after yesterday’s vote.
27th June – Boeing will launch Second Century of Aerospace Leadership at Farnborough International Airshow. Will celebrate its 100th anniversary displaying advanced commercial and defence platforms.Boeing [NYSE: BA] will celebrate its 100th anniversary at the Farnborough International Airshow, displaying advanced commercial and defense platforms, and presenting a unique exhibit to commemorate its first century and look ahead to the future.Boeing [NYSE: BA] will celebrate its 100th anniversary at the Farnborough International Airshow, displaying advanced commercial and defense platforms, and presenting a unique exhibit to commemorate its first century and look ahead to the future.
EUROPEAN NEWS
1st June – The Norwegian government’s tax on air passengers comes into effect today. ACI EUROPE issues press release and views the introduction of this new tax as a worrying development.
2nd June – French air traffic strikes cause Ryanair and British Airways to cancel flights. At least 10,000 British airline passengers have been grounded by the latest round of strikes by French air-traffic controllers.
15th June – Flybe is the leading provider of UK domestic flights; growing in France, Germany and Netherlands as network develops to almost 200 routes. Flybe achieved the feat without operating any flights to London Heathrow, and whose only significant presence in London is at London City Airport.
16th June – European, U.S. aviation bodies certify Bombardier C-Series aircraft. Bombardier says aviation authorities in Europe and the US have now certified its CS100 series passenger planes, clearing the way for delivery to Swiss International Air Lines by the end of June. The Swiss carrier is scheduled to be the first to put the plane into commercial service in July.
17th June – Greek civil aviation workers suspend strike. The walkout planned from June 20th to June 25th would have disrupted air traffic at airports on some of Greece’s popular islands at the start of its peak tourism season.
20th June – UK Referendum could affect airline traffic rights. A vote to leave the EU in Thursday’s referendum would call into question EU agreements on open airspace that have allowed a huge expansion of air travel, creating uncertainty for British and other EU airlines.
22nd June – VLM airlines files for bankruptcy. European regional carrier VLM Airlines has confirmed it has filed for bankruptcy with all flights cancelled with immediate effect.
22nd June – Glasgow Airport voted Best Airport in Europe at the ACI Europe Awards in Athens. The “Best Airport, 5-10 million passengers” accolade acknowledged its focus on enhancing facilities, improving the passenger experience and securing a host of new routes.
24th June – European Commission makes a joint statement on the outcome of the UK referendum. President Schulz, President Tusk and Prime Minister Rutte met this morning in Brussels upon the invitation of European Commission President Juncker to discuss the outcome of the United Kingdom referendum and then made a joint statement.
SASIG LIBRARY ADDITIONS (JUNE)
SASIG response to the CAA’s consultation on the Airspace Change Decision making process. Our response was submitted in time to meet the CAA deadline of 15th June 2016.