Editor’s Highlights
The big development in February came right at the end of the month with the Appeal Court’s ruling on Heathrow R3, which had the effect of effectively nullifying the National Policy Statement (NPS) on Airport Capacity in the South East. The judgement points to the previous Government’s failure to demonstrate how it had taken into account the 2015 Paris Agreement to which it had committed the UK before consulting upon and securing Parliament’s approval for the NPS in 2018.
This is a major victory for the parties who brought the JR – including amongst whom are some SASIG members – and puts the UK’s Climate Change commitments and carbon budget firmly at the forefront of UK aviation policy, as well as arguably the planning of all major infrastructure projects more generally. Expect many more JR’s until the Government, which has chosen not to appeal the Appeal Court’s decision, are able to explain how the transport, infrastructure and economic growth associated with a more global trading outlook post Brexit, can be reconciled with its post Paris Commitments.
DfT are understood to be publishing a consultation on Aviation and Climate Change this month, to be accompanied shortly thereafter with a new Night Noise Consultation and then in April or May with a Call for Evidence associated with promised Regional Aviation review.
On 10th February, Baroness Vere introduced the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill into the Lords and on 12th February, just before he stood down from his post as Aviation Minister, Paul Maynard announced an Airport Development Fund of £2m for airports with less than 200,000ATMs to bid for. Further details are provided in the Transport and Parliamentary Questions sections below.
Monthly Highlights
- 13th February – Prime Minister’s Cabinet reshuffle includes new Aviation Minister Kelly Tolhurst MP.
- 27th February – Heathrow 3rd runway plans dealt a blow in the Court of Appeal.
Events, Meetings and Conferences
SASIG Meetings
- 17th July 2020: 11am-1pm: SASIG full meeting (Venue: LGA, Smith Square, London)
- 19th November 2020: 11am-1pm: SASIG full meeting (Venue: LGA, Smith Square, London)
External Conferences
- 25-26 March 2020: British Tourism & Travel Show: NEC, Birmingham.
- 27-29 April 2020: Routes Europe: Bergen, Norway.
- 9-10 June: British-Irish Airports EXPO: New venue will be ExCel, London.
- 11-13 June 2020: AeroExpo UK: The UK’s festival of aviation. Wycombe Air Park.
- 30 June-2 July 2020: LGA Annual Conference & Exhibition: Harrogate.
Parliamentary and Government News
Both Houses rose on 13 February and returned on 24 February.
Transport Questions: House of Commons:
5th February – Transport
A lengthy debate concerning transport emissions including those from aviation can be seen here.
6th February – Civil Aviation Authority: Aviation Safety
The House was asked to consider the Civil Aviation Authority and aviation safety. Further details may be seen here.
11th February – Transport Infrastructure
A statement by the PM on proposed transport infrastructure and the debate that followed may be seen here.
Transport Questions: House of Lords
10th February – Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill
A lengthy debate regarding these two topics may be seen here.
11th February – Transport Infrastructure
The PM’s statement was repeated by Baroness Vere of Norbiton and the debate that followed may be seen here.
12th February – Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill
A further debate regarding these two topics may be seen here.
Parliamentary Questions:
Q.1. Question (13070) asked by Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) on 5 February 2020: “To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of Air Passenger Duty on route development at airports in Northern Ireland”.
A. Simon Clarke on 11 February 2020: “The government established a technical working group to explore the operational and legal challenges to changing APD in Northern Ireland. Members include representatives from industry, experts, and civil servants from both the UK government and Northern Ireland. Additionally, HM Treasury is currently reviewing Air Passenger Duty to ensure regional connectivity is strengthened while meeting the UK’s commitment to meet net zero emissions by 2050”.
Q.2. Question (12388) asked by Sarah Olney (Richmond Park) on 4 February 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps have been taken in relation to Heathrow’s planned alternation policy since the 2019 consultation”.
A. Paul Maynard on 12 February 2020: “Following a vote in Parliament, the Airports National Policy Statement was designated as government policy in June 2018. It sets out a number of requirements that an applicant for development consent must meet – these include an expectation of a ban of six and a half hours on scheduled night flights and predictable respite from aircraft noise. Expansion is a private sector project. It is for an applicant to submit an application for development consent. Heathrow Airport Limited consulted on its proposed application between 18 June – 13 September 2019, and it has also said that it will consult again in April of this year”.
Q.3. Question (11454) asked by Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) on 3 February 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase capacity for (a) freight and (b) passenger traffic at (i) each UK ferry port, (ii) Heathrow and (iii) Gatwick; and if he will make a statement”.
A. Nusrat Ghani on 6 February 2020: “UK ports are successful private enterprises, with a long history of private sector investment, that operate on a commercial basis delivering the capacity and capability required to serve their markets. As such the Government does not routinely intervene to increase capacity for either freight or passenger traffic. The Government is supportive of ambitions for Port growth and has set out its vision and ambitions for the future of the British maritime sector in the Maritime 2050: navigating the future. This Government has over the last 12 months, provided significant investment worth £30 million to our national ports infrastructure, including the Ports Infrastructure Resilience and Capacity fund which has been granted to ensure that UK ports are not only prepared for growth, but they are ready and eager for it.
The Airports National Policy Statement was designated as government policy in June 2018 following a vote in the House of Commons. It sets out that there is a need to increase airport capacity in the South East of England by 2030 by constructing one new runway and that this need is best met by the Northwest runway scheme at Heathrow Airport. It requires that at least 740,000 air transport movements are delivered at Heathrow per annum.
The Northwest runway scheme would enable Heathrow to nearly double its current freight capacity, it would also lead to better domestic connectivity by securing at least 14 domestic routes. The Government is also supportive of airports making best use of their existing capacity, subject to the assessment of the merits of individual applications, including consideration of their environmental impacts. The Government set out its policy position for the South East of England in Beyond the Horizon: The future of UK aviation: Making best use of existing runways. These policies make clear that the government considers that potential airport growth applications should be considered under the appropriate planning regime and should take careful account of all relevant considerations, particularly economic and environmental impacts and proposed mitigations”.
Q.4. Question (14703) asked by Jim Shannon (Strangford) on 10 February 2020: “To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what long term steps he is taking to protect regional aviation connectivity”.
A. Simon Clarke on 13 February 2020: “The Government has recently announced additional measures to support and enhance regional connectivity across the UK, to ensure all corners of the country drive the economy, and fully benefit from prosperity in years to come. In a sign of the Government’s commitment to levelling up all regions of the UK, a review of regional connectivity will ensure all nations and regions of the UK have the domestic transport connections local communities rely on – including regional airports. As part of this work and ahead of the March Budget, HM Treasury is currently reviewing Air Passenger Duty to ensure regional connectivity is strengthened while meeting the UK’s climate change commitments to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The government established a technical working group to explore the operational and legal challenges to changing APD in Northern Ireland. Members include representatives from industry, experts, and civil servants from both the UK government and Northern Ireland”.
Q.5. Question (14818) asked by Chris Elmore (Ogmore) on 10 February 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Heathrow Airport Ltd’s Initial Business Plan, published in December 2019, committing funding to new rail links to that airport, if the Government will confirm (a) funding from the public purse to and (b) approve the Western Rail Link to Heathrow Airport”.
A. Grant Shapps on 17 February 2020: “It is helpful that Heathrow Airport has been clear in its Initial Business Plan that it sees the Western Rail Link being delivered in all scenarios. Government has always been clear that its support for the development of the scheme is subject to the successful agreement of terms with the Heathrow Aviation industry”.
Q.6. Question (14819) asked by Chris Elmore (Ogmore) on 10 February 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timescales are for the progress of rail access projects to Heathrow Airport”.
A. Grant Shapps on 17 February 2020: “Network Rail is finalising work on the Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLtH) Development Consent Order and will be prepared to submit to the Planning Inspectorate following the agreement of terms between the Government and the Heathrow Aviation industry on an appropriate financial contribution to the project. Network Rail has been advised to expect to submit the application for Development Consent no later than summer 2020, which will mark the next major milestone for the project. On Southern Access to Heathrow (SAtH), my Department has been working to develop an appropriate ‘market involved’ commercial model. Following Ministerial approval and alignment to the upcoming HM Treasury Infrastructure Finance Review, the Department intends to provide further guidance regarding the commercial approach later this year”.
Q.7. Question (14819) asked by Chris Elmore (Ogmore) on 10 February 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to deliver the Western Rail Link to Heathrow Airport”.
A. Grant Shapps on 17 February 2020: “My officials are working closely with Heathrow Airport Limited and the Civil Aviation Authority to reach agreement on acceptable terms, which are essential to the delivery of the scheme. Subject to a successful conclusion of these negotiations, Network Rail will submit the scheme’s application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate”.
Q.8. Question (HL1623) asked by Viscount Thurso on 12 February 2020: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of greenhouse gas emissions from (1) aircraft taking off and landing within the UK, and (2) aircraft taking off in the UK bound for overseas destinations”.
A. Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 26 February 2020: “The Government recognises that the fight against climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and it is right that we continue to focus on highlighting emissions and plan for their ongoing reduction. The Government reports on emissions produced by domestic flights operating between UK airports. In accordance with international guidelines set by UNFCCC, the Government also reports on emissions from international flights operating at UK airports. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) report on all of these Greenhouse Gas emissions statistics annually. The statistics for 2018 were published just last week and are readily available online at gov.uk”.
Q.9. Question (18648) asked by Preet Kaur Gill (Birmingham, Edgbaston) on 21 February 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to encourage airports to become carbon neutral”.
A. Kelly Tolhurst on 26th February 2020: “The Government’s climate change targets include airport emissions, and so airports will need to reach net zero by 2050. Airport emissions are largely generated by surface access and power and heat generation, both of which will be addressed through measures targeted at those sectors. For example, this includes an investment of nearly £1.5 billion to support the transition to ultra-low emission vehicles, with grants available for plug-in vehicles and schemes to support chargepoint infrastructure. We are also consulting on bringing forward our ambition to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans forward to 2035 or earlier, as per the advice of the Committee on Climate Change. Airports are not legally responsible for emissions from aircraft operations. On emissions from aircraft operations, we are planning to consult shortly to update the Government’s position on aviation and climate change. It is critical that we consider how the aviation sector can play its part in delivering our net zero ambitions”.
Q.10. Question (18810) asked by Sarah Olney (Richmond Park) on 21 February 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has undertaken to ensure that the expansion of Heathrow by over 700 aircraft each day is compatible with the Government’s policy on achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050”.
A. Kelly Tolhurst on 26th February 2020: “The Government is committed to setting a clear ambition for the aviation sector and is carefully considering the advice of the Committee on Climate Change. We are planning to consult shortly on an update to the Government’s position on aviation and climate change. It is critical that we consider how the sector can play its part in delivering our net zero ambitions, while continuing to thrive. The Airports National Policy Statement guarantees that a new Northwest runway at Heathrow will only be built if an applicant for development consent can demonstrate that any increase in carbon emissions from the scheme will not materially impact the government’s ability to meet its carbon reduction targets”.
National and Regional News
1st February – Campaigners urge Bristol Airport expansion U-turn. They want civic leaders to reverse their support for the expansion.
2nd February – Bus service to East Midlands Airport from Loughborough has been axed. The change will take place later this month.
3rd February – Council leader supports decision to refuse Stansted expansion. R4U’s Cllr John Lodge, leader at the Uttlesford District Council has released a statement to this effect.
6th February – Kirklees Council urged not to back Leeds Bradford expansion plans. The council leader has been told it will undermine regional carbon emissions targets.
6th February – MP Liam Fox is against Bristol Airport expansion. He said he doubts expansion would improve local economy and local roads already struggle to cope with traffic.
7th February – London Southend Airport named as UK’s fastest growing airport in 2019. CAA figures reveal the number of passengers choosing to use the airport grew by 37.5% last year.
7th February – London City Airport expansion is criticised. Campaigners say the majority of Tower Hamlets residents are against the expansion plans.
7th February – An article in Management Today titled “Why Heathrow’s expansion is essential to the UK’s growth – and stability” can be seen here.
8th February – Stansted Airport prepares for ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ chance to redraw flight paths. This will be the first overhaul of flight paths in fifty years.
8th February – Tram plans could expand to include Liverpool Airport. Proposals revealed for a new ‘trackless electric tram’ system could reach as far as LJL Airport.
8 February – Campaigners against Bristol Airport expansion print ‘one million words’ of objections. The objections posted on the planning website were made into bound books.
10th February – Heathrow lays out timeline for its expansion plans. It still aims to open its new runway by 2028-29.
10th February – UK court rules against appeal to stop Stansted expansion. It’s rejected Stop Stansted Expansion’s appeal against the decision to permit UDC to review airport expansion.
11th February – Bristol Airport could appeal council decision to reject expansion. Councillors said environmental/societal impacts outweighed economic benefits of expansion.
12th February – Teesside Airport flight subsidy divides mayoral contenders. It’s been revealed that new flights are being subsidised by taxpayers.
12th February – Newquay Airport announces new summer flights into Heathrow by BA. Flybe will continue to operate their flights into Gatwick as recently announced.
14th February – Changing flight hours at Leeds Bradford Airport could create 13,000 jobs by 2030. Plans were outlined at a public event this week.
14th February – Transport for West Midlands MD says that HS2 would allow Birmingham to solve London airports capacity fears. Further details may be seen here.
18th February – Heathrow Airport set to submit planning for expansion later this year. The airport is after full Government backing for their expansion.
19th February – Stansted welcomes court dismissal of legal challenge. The appeal against expansion was made by Stop Stansted Expansion.
19th February – Carlisle Airport appoints new boss. His appointment comes six months after commercial flights were re-launched.
20th February – New Cornwall Airport Newquay MD named. Peter Downes will join from London City Airport where he has been Aviation Director.
21st February – Heathrow pledges to be carbon-neutral by mid-2030s. It says it has already achieved its goal for infrastructure.
22nd February – Parking permits issued near Newcastle Airport. This is in response to people misusing lay-bys when accessing the airport.
24th February – A consultation is opened regarding Bristol Airport’s designation as a ‘coordinated airport’. It will run until 3 April 2020 and further details may be seen here.
25th February – Petition against night flights at Southend increases. Petitioners are not happy with night time cargo flights.
26th February – Heathrow’s profits rise whilst awaiting third runway appeal decision. It’s posted its 9th consecutive year of passenger growth.
27th February – Heathrow 3rd runway plans dealt a blow in the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal ordered that the NPS is dropped and rewritten.
27th February – An article in Travel Mole saying that other airport expansion plans could not be rejected in the light of the Heathrow decision can be seen here.
27th February – Cornwall Airport Newquay announces new year round flights to Scotland. The destinations will be Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.
28th February – Plans to create 33,000 new jobs at Doncaster Sheffield Airport submitted. The outline plans could deliver a new regional and national rail connection to the airport.
28th February – North Thanet MP says after the appeal court’s decision on Heathrow’s third runway Manston Airport should be re-opened. Further details can be seen here.
28th February – Airlines react to the Government’s defeat in court regarding Heathrow’s third runway. Further details can be seen here.
29th February – An article in the Yorkshire Post by Robert Hough, Chairman of Peel Airports about how an east coast link will help Doncaster Sheffield Airport can be seen here.
Other Aviation Industry News
2nd February – An article in The Ferrett claiming that Heathrow expansion will boost climate emissions from Scottish airports by 600,000 tonnes can be seen here.
4th February – Heathrow boss says aviation is not the enemy in climate battle. He says the answer is not to stop people flying – it is about decarbonising aviation.
4th February – An article in Airport Technology titled: “Crunch time: Could time-based separation solve the impending capacity crunch?” can be seen here.
7th February – Planning board has ‘no role’ in airport numbers. It’s dismissed a series of questions referred to it by Fingal County Council, about Dublin Airport numbers.
7th February – Cork Airport has been recertified for another year within the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. It’s been mapping its carbon footprint since 2009.
10th February – Kirklees Council leader urged not to back using public money for Leeds Bradford airport expansion. Kirklees Greens Leader said it was ‘foolhardy’.
10th February – Government launches its consultation on freeports. Further information and access to documentation may be seen here.
12th February – New £2m Airfield Development Fund allocated to support local UK airfields. This has been launched by the Aviation Minister, Paul Maynard.
13th February – ACI figures show European airports report slower passenger growth and declining freight in 2019. Further details may be seen here.
13th February – Airlines may need to reduce passenger numbers to take off due to climate change say scientists. Further details may be seen here.
13th February – Prime Minister’s Cabinet reshuffle includes new Aviation Minister Kelly Tolhurst MP.
13th February – ACI issues guidance for airports to assist them in making the most of existing capacity while also planning to expand to meet global demand. Details can be seen here.
18th February – An article in Air Quality News claiming that every UK airport has plans to expand, can be seen here.
18th February – Shannon Airport CE calls on Government to allow the airport to access funds from the State’s regional airport programme. Further details may be seen here.
18th February – A Climate News Network article claims a new scientific report just published says all UK airports must shut by 2050 to achieve target emissions. Further details here.
21st February – Stansted Airport to increase express set-down fee by £1. The change comes into effect next week and affects those that stay for less than ten minutes.
25th February – World’s first air traffic control tower completes 100 years. It was built at the now-decommissioned Croydon Airport, which was London’s main airport at the time.
27th February – An article in the Independent titled: “Heathrow expansion: why not use airport capacity elsewhere?” which focuses on regional airports, can be seen here.
27th February – CAA launches consultation on proposed criteria for assessing and accepting the Airspace Change Masterplan. Details and access to documents may be seen here.
27th February – An article in the Independent titled “Can Britain build more airports and still decarbonise our economy by 2050” can be seen here.
27th February – An article in Global Data saying that other airports may have their expansion plans blocked in the light of the Heathrow decision can be seen here.
28th February – Edinburgh Airport received almost 500 noise complaints from 2 people last summer. They had 736 complaints in 3rd quarter of 2019, with 65% coming from 2 people.
SASIG Library Additions
A presentation used at an Airspace Classification Review Industry Information Session to which SASIG was invited and which was held on 14 January 2020 can be seen here.
The following presentations were given at the last meeting of the Airspace & Noise Engagement Group (ANEG) held on 17 January to which SASIG attended. They can be seen in the members’ area of our website; minutes of the meeting will be added when available.
- ‘Delivering the National Programme of Airspace Change’ by the Airspace Change Organising Group (ACOG):
- ‘ICCAN – one year in’ – ICCAN presentation
- ‘CAP1841: Aircraft Noise & Health Effects’ – CAA Update