SASIG Newsletter – December 2019
Editor’s Highlights
With New Year greetings from the Secretariat, this December newsletter focuses largely on industry news and forthcoming events as the General Election and its Brexit focused aftermath when Parliament returned, has meant that there is no real Government news on aviation to speak of. Grant Shapps and Paul Maynard both retained the positions overseeing Government Aviation policy – for now at least pending an expected Government re-shuffle in February or March, but there were no significant policy announcements in the run up to the holiday period.
Chris Cain
Head of Secretariat
Monthly Highlights
13th December – Conservatives win UK General Election.
17th December – CAA launches Airspace classification review which will end on 3 March 2020.
18th December – ICCAN publishes their review of SoNA 2014.
20th December – Heathrow third runway delayed for up to three years.
Events, Meetings and Conferences
SASIG Meetings
- 26th February 2020: 11am-1pm: SASIG full meeting (Venue: LGA, Smith Square, London)
- 17th July 2020: 11am-1pm: SASIG full meeting (Venue: LGA, Smith Square, London)
External Conferences
- 25th-26th March 2020: British Tourism & Travel Show: NEC, Birmingham.
- 27th-29th April 2020: Routes Europe: Bergen, Norway.
- 9th-10th June: British-Irish Airports EXPO: New venue will be ExCel, London.
- 11th-13th June 2020: AeroExpo UK: The UK’s festival of aviation. Wycombe Air Park.
Parliamentary and Government News
13th December – UK General Election.
The House of Lords rose on 19th December and will return on 7th January 2020.
The House of Commons rose on 20th December and will also return on 7th January 2019.
Transport Questions: House of Commons:
There were no transport questions in the House of Commons this month.
Transport Questions: House of Lords
There were no transport questions in the House of Lords this month.
Parliamentary Questions:
There were no Parliamentary questions regarding transport this month.
National and Regional News
1st December – Heathrow will be penalised if expansion goes over budget. CAA has placed a new clause into the airport’s licence due to concerns the project could go over-budget.
2nd December – Plans have been lodged for a 132 bedroom hotel at Southend Airport. Airport bosses recently announced a goal of securing 20 million passengers per year.
3rd December – Direct rail link to Luton Airport moves a step closer. A bridge to carry trains over the main A1081 road is now in place.
3rd December – Innovation at Heathrow would help to cut carbon globally. Back Heathrow Campaign calls on next Government to commit to building new airport infrastructure.
3rd December – Loganair will close Norwich Airport base. It’ll continue to operate from Norwich to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Jersey using aircraft/crews from its Scottish bases.
3rd December – Manchester Airport reveals the progress made on its £1bn transformation. There are several months to go until it opens its new “super terminal.”
4th December – Bristol Airport CE says it is time for the airport expansion plans to be approved. It’s been a year since they were submitted to council.
5th December – New development near Doncaster Sheffield Airport will create 200 jobs. Work has begun on two speculative industrial units on a prominent site close to the airport.
6th December – Investors urged to develop new business hub at Carlisle Lake District Airport. It’s been six months since the first commercial flights in 26 years took off.
9th December – Southend Airport defends use of taxiway after complaints. Some nearby residents feel it is too close to their homes and creates noise problems.
9th December – Southend Airport reveals ‘major’ action plan to ease its environmental impact. It’s set to be unveiled by summer 2020.
9th December – Heathrow 3rd runway plans could be blocked says PM. He says airport bosses are yet to show the runway would comply with noise and pollution curbs.
10th December – Birmingham Airport launches fleet of electric buses to replace the current diesel vehicles. It is the first UK airport to implement the ultra-low emission buses.
12th December – Birmingham Airport implements electronic flight progress strips. They have replaced the old paper-based system that ATC used to monitor and track each flight.
14th December – Petition launched by campaigners opposing Leeds Bradford Airport expansion. They want City Council to oppose the expansion and scrap its link road plans.
15th December – New £150m arrivals terminal lined up for Stansted Airport is delayed. This is to allow for a full review of the plans.
17th December – Air quality concerns raised by anti-Stansted expansion campaigners. They argue additional road traffic and flights caused by expansion would add to air pollution.
18th December – Southend Airport night flights are ‘operating within the rules’. There have been complaints from nearby residents about noise keeping them awake at night.
18th December – Anti-expansion campaigners at Bristol angry at councillors. Councillors had voted not to extend a full council meeting to discuss motion.
19th December – Plan submitted to open commercial heliport at £2m Plymouth mansion. This would be almost a decade after the city’s airport closed.
19th December – London City Airport has been rated as carbon neutral. The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme has awarded ‘Level 3+ (Neutrality)’ status – its highest accreditation.
20th December – Plans to build a new £100m link road near Leeds Bradford Airport have been scrapped by Leeds City Council. Further details can be seen here.
20th December – Heathrow third runway delayed for up to three years. The CAA has rejected its spending plans.
20th December – Tees Valley Mayor approves £24m for Teesside Airport manufacturing park construction. It will be built on the 270-acres of land on the southside of the airport.
20th December – Council sets date to decide on Stansted expansion. UDC will hold a special planning committee meeting on Friday, 24 January 2020.
22nd December – Bristol Airport introduces £100 instant fine for motorists who pick up or drop off anyone outside official parking areas zones. Says it is to deter motorists from ‘unsafe’ behaviour, and that air quality at the airport is within Government objective limits.
23rd December – Heathrow’s 3rd runway plans may increase passenger charges. Both plans, reportedly due this week, could result in increase of up to 25% in passenger charges.
23rd December – Manchester Airport airfield re-designation scheme is launched. It’s to prepare for introduction of new parallel taxiways to support the expansion of Terminal Two.
24th December – Heathrow claims expansion plans will lower airfares. It has submitted a new initial business plan to the CAA setting out how it will deliver its expansion plans.
25th December – MP Sir David Amess has pledged to challenge bosses over night flights at Southend Airport. He spoke out at a Commons adjournment debate which he called.
25th December – Time for public comment extended for Southampton Airport planning application. It was to close on December 23, but this has since been extended to January 3.
26th December – Campaigners hail decision to scrap Leeds Bradford Airport link road. Leeds City Council had been consulting on the scheme but faced strong opposition.
30th December – Manchester Airport launches ‘trusted’ car park scheme. They’ve published a list of meet and greet firms that meet trading standards in an effort to beat rogue firms.
Other Aviation Industry News
2nd December – An article in Airport Technology titled “Populism in action: are protectionist policies affecting air travel?” can be seen here.
4th December – An article in Passenger Terminal Today titled “Shaping the passenger experience” can be seen here.
4th December – An article in The Planner titled: “Following the instructions for a stress-free journey” debating boarding planes in a logical order of seat numbers can be seen here.
9th December – Irish government buys airport in Connemara for €2.5 million. Cabinet approved plans to buy the airport 28 kilometres west of Galway City last month.
9th December – An article in Airport Technology titled: “Q&A: what’s driving demand for airport parking?” can be seen here.
10th December – Aberdeen Airport drop-off fee increases. Airport says it will allow them to invest more into their own facilities and secure more flight routes.
11th December – An article in Passenger Terminal Today titled: “The big tech trends shaping airports in 2020” can be seen here.
12th December – Reacting to the adoption by the EC of its sustainability & climate strategy (‘the European Green Deal’), the European airport industry expressed support for the pioneering and disruptive EU policy overhaul. Further details may be seen here.
13th December – CAA began a consultation (ending 7 Feb 2020) on proposed amendments to their statutory charges, due to take effect from 1 April 2020. Further details here.
13th December – IATA reveals 50% decline in carbon emissions per passenger since 1990. Further details may be seen here.
14th December – Prestwick Airport cuts losses but still no sale. Negotiations continue with undisclosed prospective buyers more than two months after sale was due to be completed.
16th December – A list of airlines that stopped flying in 2019 can be seen here.
17th December – CAA launches Airspace classification review which will end on 3 March 2020. Further details and access to the consultation website may be seen here.
17th December – Regional airports to share €3.7m in taxpayers’ cash. Funds will help cover running costs at Donegal, Kerry and Knock.
18th December – ICCAN publishes their review of SoNA 2014. Further details and access to the document may be seen here.
19th December – CAA releases CAP1862 – Airspace Modernisation Progress Report 2019. Further details and access to the document can be seen here.
20th December – CAA publishes policy update and consultation on the early costs of Heathrow capacity expansion. Further details and access to the document (CAP1871) can be seen here.
20th December – CAA publish their consultation response document to the outcome of their consultation on a PPR decision-making process. See here for further details.
20th December – Glasgow Airport owners rumoured to be behind Prestwick takeover bid. Transport Secretary announced a buyer has been found.
21st December – Passenger charge cut appealed by airport operator. DAA claims decision to reduce fees contained ‘material flaws’.
23rd December – The environment is to be considered within all Dublin Airport plans. A local Green Party councillor has asked Fingal County Council to do this.
28th December – Aberdeen Airport reminder about airport drone restrictions. They issued warning to anyone who received drones for Xmas so they are aware of airfield no-fly zones.
29th December – Dublin Airport to trial city-based bag drop-off idea. It would allow passengers to securely leave their luggage at different points in the city.
30th December – Cardiff Airport publishes £18.5 million pre-tax loss. This is nearly three times higher than the previous year.
SASIG Library Additions
There were no library additions this month.