SASIG Newsletter – July 2020
Editor’s Highlights
The Government’s focus and Parliament’s agenda in relation to aviation has continued to be dominated in July by COVID related issues, with discussions and lobbying around the introduction of quarantine rules for international inbound travellers and air bridges taking up a lot of time and resource for DfT and the industry alike. It would be fair to say that the industry and Government are still not on the same page on this issue and that it has been the source of endless fascination for newspapers.
Other significant developments included:
- DfT and CAA issuing a joint statement on their commitment to modernising airspace.
- The Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise (ICCAN) launching a new online Toolkit for airports and other organisations planning airspace change under Stage 3A of the Civil Aviation Authority’s CAP1616 process. Access to the Toolkit is available on the ICCAN website here.
- The approval of a DCO for the redevelopment of Manston as a cargo Airport was approved on 10 July.
- The launch of the Jet Zero Council by the Prime Minister, targeting net zero aviation, on 22 July following a debate on decarbonisation of aviation in Parliament on 2 July.
Parliament is now in recess until 1 September.
Monthly Highlights
3rd July – A full list of countries for which quarantine will not apply to people arriving back in England was published. Further details here.
3rd July – Speech by Simon Clarke MP, Minister of State at MHCLG, delivered at the Local Government Association’s annual conference 2020 can be seen here.
17th July – DfT and CAA issue joint statement on their commitment to modernising airspace. For further details and to access the statement see here.
23rd July – CAA publishes an update that provides more detail on how they intend to replan work on airspace modernisation. The update can be seen here.
25th July – Government imposes 14-day quarantine rule on travellers coming back to UK from Spain. Details here.
This month saw the publication of ICCAN’s report on aviation noise metrics and measurement. For further details and to access the document, please see here.
Events, Meetings and Conferences
SASIG Meetings
1st October 2020: 11am-1pm: SASIG full meeting (Venue: LGA, Smith Square, London). This replaces the meeting originally scheduled for 17th July 2020: (Venue: LGA, Smith Square, London).
19th November 2020: 11am-1pm: SASIG full meeting (Venue: LGA, Smith Square, London) Please note: this date may now also change.
External Conferences (please note: some changes due to COVID-19 crisis)
- 5-6 October 2020: British-Irish Airports EXPO: Venue will be ExCel, London. (Rescheduled from 9-10 June).
- 19 October 2020: Airlines 2050: London
- 20-22 October 2020: 30th ACI Europe Annual Assembly & Congress: Geneva Airport
- December 2021: 9th European Aviation Conference: Heilbronn, Germany
Parliamentary and Government News
The House of Commons rose on 22 July 2020 for the Summer Recess and will return on 1 September 2020.
The House of Lords rose on 29 July 2020 for the Summer Recess and will return on 2 September 2020.
Transport Questions: House of Commons:
2nd July: Aviation: Decarbonisation
A question was asked of the Transport Secretary as to what steps his Department is taking to decarbonise the aviation sector. The debate may be seen here.
2nd July: Aviation sector: worker protection:
A question was asked as to what steps are being taken to help ensure that the terms and conditions of workers in the aviation sector are protected during the covid-19 pandemic. Details here.
2nd July: Manchester Airport and the Local Economy:
A debate about how the airport impacts on the local economy may be seen here.
6th July: Transport – Travel Corridors
The Secretary of State for Transport made a statement regarding Travel Corridors and the process to date. The statement may be seen here.
21st July – Aerospace Sector
The Government was asked what support it is giving to the aerospace sector during the COVID-19 crisis. Details may be seen here.
A petition by residents of Glasgow North was raised regarding the future of the aviation and aerospace industry. Further details here.
22nd July – Southern Heathrow rail link
A debate was held about potential economic benefits of a southern Heathrow rail link. Details may be seen here.
Transport Questions: House of Lords
28th July – Spain: Travel
Government was asked what support it will give to travellers affected by the latest quarantine rules imposed on those returning from Spain. The debate may be seen here.
Parliamentary Questions:
Q.1. Question (68747) asked by Gill Furniss (Sheffield, Brightside & Hillsborough) on 3 July 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that workers in airports are not affected by job losses due to the covid-19 outbreak”.
A. Kelly Tolhurst on 8 July 2020: “The aviation sector can draw on the unprecedented package of economic measures we have put in place during this time. These measures include: HMRC’s Time to Pay flexibilities with tax bills, including VAT deferrals; the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme; HMT and the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility; and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme for large and small businesses. If airlines or airports find themselves in trouble as a result of coronavirus, even following the Government’s cross-economy wage and financial interventions, the Transport Secretary and Chancellor have confirmed that we are prepared to enter discussions with individual companies seeking bespoke support as a last resort, having exhausted all other options. Any intervention would need to represent value for money for taxpayers. The recent announcements about proposed redundancies will be very distressing news for employees and their families. Government recognises the challenges facing the aviation industry and remains committed to an open dialogue with the sector and unions, to minimise the damage to industry and retain jobs. We encourage airports and unions to engage constructively with each other, striving to provide employees with as much certainty as possible during this challenging time”.
Q.2. Question (68313) asked by Andrew Percy (Brigg & Goole) on 2 July 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to guarantee refunds for flights and holidays cancelled due to the covid-19 outbreak”.
A. Kelly Tolhurst on 10 July 2020: (Grouped answer with Q. Nos: 68314/68315/68316) “There have been no changes to consumer law, and airlines are expected to abide by this and honour consumer rights. We have been clear with industry that when consumers are entitled to a refund and ask for one, refunds must be paid in a timely manner, and the process should not be unduly difficult for consumers.
My department is working to consider the impacts of COVID-19 on the ATOL Scheme, proposals for vouchers, and the payment of refunds for cancelled holidays and flights. We are working to reach a position on this issue that balances the need to protect consumer rights whilst recognising the continuing pressure on industry. The Civil Aviation Authority are responsible for enforcing European Regulation 261/2004. My department works closely with the Civil Aviation Authority and has regular discussions with them about the range of issues that have arisen from the COVID-19 crisis – including issues relating to enforcement action in respect of refund payments. On 1 July 2020 the Civil Aviation Authority provided an update on its website about its review into the refund policies of airlines during the coronavirus pandemic. They are reviewing the refund policies of all UK airlines, as well as a number of international airlines that operate flights to and from the UK. The review is considering how airlines are handling refunds for flight-only bookings during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
Q.3. Question (71032) asked by Jack Lopresti (Filton & Bradley Stoke) on 8 July 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the aviation industry on plans for producing the world’s first net zero long-haul passenger plane; and if he will make a statement”.
A. Nadhim Zahawi on 13 July 2020: “The Aerospace Technology Institute research programme supports zero emission aircraft research projects. We have held discussions with industry, including through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, about accelerating the development of clean aerospace technologies. Further discussion will take place through the Jet Zero Council, which will bring together Ministers and airlines, airports, aerospace manufacturers, fuel suppliers, academia, and environmental groups to provide leadership and strategic direction to position the UK as a global leader in clean aviation”.
Q.4. Question (73713) asked by Sir Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West) on 14 July 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the carbon emissions reductions that could be achieved in the next (a) five and (b) 10 years from (i) more sustainable aviation fuels, (ii) more efficient aircraft, (iii) hybrid and electric flight and (iv) airspace modernisation”.
A. (Grouped with Q. 73711) Kelly Tolhurst on 22 July 2020: “The focus of our policy development and analysis to date has been on ways to meet our 2050 net zero carbon commitment. We have not specifically made an assessment of the savings that could be made if the focus were the next five or ten years, but we continue to develop policies to reduce emissions over both the short term and the medium term. The Transport Secretary recently announced the Jet Zero Council, which will provide leadership and strategic direction to cut aviation emissions. The Council will focus on developing UK capabilities to deliver zero emission flight. Through the Aerospace Growth Partnership, Government and industry are committing a total of £3.9bn in funding for mid-stage aerospace research and development between 2013 and 2026. DfT’s Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition makes £20 million of capital funding available for projects that will produce low carbon waste-based fuels for use in aircraft and heavy goods vehicles. This government funding will be matched by the private sector and is expected to support construction of first-of-a-kind plants by 2021. The sustainable aviation fuel produced in these plants is expected to have emissions savings of at least 70% when compared to traditional jet fuel”.
Q.5. Question (73777) asked by Paul Maynard (Blackpool North & Cleveleys) on 14 July 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the aviation (a) sector and (b) supply chain”.
A. Kelly Tolhurst on 22 July 2020: “Before the impact of COVID-19, the UK aviation sector, including air transport and aerospace, directly employed around 230,000 people and supported around 500,000 jobs in total, including the jobs supported through its purchase of goods and services along its supply chain. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a sharp contraction in aviation demand, which has created large revenue losses for airlines, airports and companies along the aviation supply chain. The sector has responded to falling revenues by taking action to cut costs. The Department keeps impacts of Covid-19 on the transport sector under regular review and recognises the importance of the aviation sector to the UK economy. As a result, a series of measures have already been introduced. The aviation sector can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including a Bank of England scheme for firms to raise capital, Time to Pay flexibilities with tax bills, financial support for employees and VAT deferrals. The Department also influenced the airport flight slot usage rules at the start of the pandemic, enabling airlines to cut their services without penalty and protect the environment from unnecessary flying. The Government has also commenced a policy of ‘travel corridors’, a risk-based alternative to blanket self-isolation requirements with lower risk countries.
We are working with the sector to enable its restart”.
Q.6. Question (73778) asked by Paul Maynard (Blackpool North & Cleveleys) on 14 July 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on connectivity from each UK airport”.
A. Kelly Tolhurst on 22 July 2020: “The Department has been speaking regularly to airport operators and airlines to understand the effect COVID-19 has had on connectivity as part of our engagement on restart and recovery in the sector. We will continue to work closely with the industry, to understand how the aviation sector is recovering. This will support government in developing a clear recovery plan for aviation that considers the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on regional connectivity from each UK airport”.
Q.7. Question (73712) asked by Sir Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West) on 14 July 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has for airspace modernisation”.
A. Kelly Tolhurst on 22 July 2020: “Airspace modernisation is vital to the future of aviation, to delivering net zero and, now, to supporting the aviation sector’s recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a critical infrastructure programme of national importance. However, in light of the pandemic, we recognise that the timescales in which airspace modernisation will take place will change. We are working with the CAA to review the Airspace Modernisation Strategy, to consider the recommendations from ACOG’s recent report ‘Remobilising the Airspace Change Programme’, and will advise stakeholders of our preferred approach in the early Autumn”.
Q.8. Question (76747) asked by Ruth Cadbury (Brentford & Isleworth) on 20 July 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with representatives of Heathrow Airport on the use of mixed mode operations on the northern runway”. (See Grouped answer below).
Q.9. Question (76748) asked by Ruth Cadbury (Brentford & Isleworth) on 20 July 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the Government’s policy is on the use of mixed mode operations at Heathrow Airport”. (See Grouped answer below).
Q.10. Question (76749) asked by Ruth Cadbury (Brentford & Isleworth) on 20 July 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what impact assessment Heathrow Airport is required to undertake when changing its runway operations”.
A. Kelly Tolhurst on 28 July 2020: (Grouped answer with Q’s 76748 & 76749): “London Heathrow Airport sought the views of the department on its proposal to move temporarily all of its operations to the northern runway before this took place on 13 July 2020. In view of the current air traffic demand and its reduced environmental impacts, and the long-term benefits to the airport from repairing its southern runway, the government endorsed the airport’s decision to operate solely for a limited period from the northern runway.
The Government expects London Heathrow Airport to assess the potential operational, safety and environmental consequences of any change to its operations before implementation. The specific format of any such assessment, and the level of detail to be included within it, are the responsibility of London Heathrow Airport and will need to be undertaken in compliance with its legal and regulatory obligations.
The government’s longstanding policy is that mixed mode operations at London Heathrow Airport on its two runways should not be undertaken other than in agreed circumstances such as when the airport operates in Tactically Enhanced Arrivals Mode (TEAM). Any proposal by London Heathrow Airport to operate both runways on a permanent mixed mode basis would need the government’s consent as well as satisfying all legal requirements”.
Q.11. Question (76750) asked by Ruth Cadbury (Brentford & Isleworth) on 20 July 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the economic value of flights arriving at Heathrow before 6 am”.
A. Kelly Tolhurst on 28 July 2020: “The Government’s recognises that night flights have material value to the economy, and that the aviation industry connects people and UK businesses with the world. In particular, we recognised the importance of early morning arrivals from long-haul routes such as the Far East and America, volume of onward connections supported in this early morning period, and the contribution flights in the shoulder periods make to delivery of essential freight, both dedicated and belly-hold.
The economic value of night flights at Heathrow is considered in the Department’s decisions relating to night flight restrictions at the airport. The last impact assessment was published in July 2017 to inform the current night flight restrictions, which run until October 2022”.
Q.12. Question (76583) asked by Sir Edward Davey (Kingston & Surbiton) on 20 July 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy for all UK internal flights to be sustainably powered by 2030; and if he will make a statement”.
A. Kelly Tolhurst on 28 July 2020: “It is critical that aviation plays its part in delivering the UK’s net zero ambitions. The Transport and Business Secretaries co-chaired the new Jet Zero Council on 22 July which brought together senior leaders in aviation, aerospace and academia to drive high ambition in the delivery of new technologies and innovative ways to cut aviation emissions. We will also consult on our position on aviation and climate change later this year”.
Q.13. Question (76898) asked by Neale Hanvey (Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath) on 20 July 2020: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to protect regional connectivity in the UK following the collapse of Flybe”.
A. Kelly Tolhurst on 28 July 2020: “The Government recognises the impact Flybe’s collapse and the subsequent COVID-19 constraints on services, regional airports, regional economies and connectivity across the UK. We are working with industry to identify where key routes are being re-established and we remain committed to supporting regional connectivity, recognising the importance of maintaining a thriving competitive aviation sector in the UK to deliver this. In May the Government announced a £5.7million funding package of measures, temporarily supporting two airlinks, from Belfast and Londonderry to London, and associated airport services at City of Derry Airport and Belfast City Airport. The funding package ensured that lifeline connectivity services continued to both Belfast and Londonderry during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government has provided an unprecedented package of measures to support the UK economy. These measures are open to businesses across the aviation sector and include a Bank of England scheme for firms to raise capital, Time to Pay flexibilities with tax bills, financial support for employees and VAT deferrals. In exceptional circumstances, where a viable company has exhausted all options and its failure would disproportionately harm the economy, the Government is prepared to enter discussions with individual companies seeking bespoke support as a last resort. Any intervention would need to represent value for money for taxpayers. We will continue to engage with stakeholders across the sector, including regional airports, to understand the situations they face. The Chancellor has announced that there will be a consultation on aviation tax reform. As part of this consultation, the Government will consider the case for changing the APD treatment of domestic flights, such as reintroducing a return leg exemption, and for increasing the number of international distance bands. The Government remains committed to supporting regional connectivity across all transport modes, as well as the importance of maintaining a thriving competitive aviation sector in the UK to deliver connectivity. The Department is currently working on a recovery plan for the sector out to 2025. The plan will have a strong focus on regional connectivity and will be developed in consultation with industry for an Autumn publication”.
Q.14. Question (HL7306) asked by Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick on 24 July 2020: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further (1) to the statement by the Airport Operators Association that airports may have lost at least £4 billion in revenue by the end of 2020, and (2) the job losses in the aviation sector, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, what steps they are taking to assist financially the aviation industry”.
A. Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 31 July 2020: “The Government recognises the challenging times facing the aviation sector as a result of COVID-19. The aviation sector is crucial to the UK’s economy and businesses across the industry will be able to draw on the unprecedented package of economic measures we have put in place during this time.
This includes a Bank of England scheme for firms to raise capital and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme which facilitates access to finance for businesses affected by the outbreak. Firms are also able to access ‘Time to Pay’ scheme which eases restrictions with tax bills and VAT deferrals. The Government is also ensuring financial support for employees through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme covering 80% of furloughed employees’ usual monthly wage costs, up to £2,500 a month, alongside the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and pension contributions. The Department is in close contact with the aviation sector ensuring that the Government is kept fully aware of the latest developments with all firms and to understand where additional policy measures may be useful and to address specific industry issues.
The Department has established a Restart and Recovery Unit for aviation. The unit will immediately focus on restart, in particular:
- Examining new standards on health and wellbeing across the customer journey;
- Measures needed to sustain and boost the sector;
- Ensuring new standards are established at an international level; and
- Engagement with the sector to ensure the proposals developed are fit for purpose.
The unit will also focus on establishing a clear vision and objectives for the sector looking forward to the recovery phase. We are working closely with the aviation sector to support it to ensure there is sufficient capacity to protect global travel routes, continue repatriation, freight and maintain vital connectivity”.
National and Regional News
1st July – Easyjet looks set to close three of its UK bases. Airline proposals include the potential closure of Stansted, Southend and Newcastle.
1st July – Bristol Airport CEO says airport is ‘not immune to the risk of job losses’ but he is confident of its future. He’s also calling on Government to better support aviation sector.
2nd July – Stansted unable to say when grounded expansion plan may restart. They confirm a review of the plan is still suspended.
3rd July – Plane passengers could soon face swab tests at Heathrow and other airports, says Transport Secretary. An announcement could be made within weeks.
6th July – First flight in a decade to London from Teesside takes off. Eastern Airways’ route to the capital will initially run daily between Monday and Friday.
6th July – Flights between Newquay and Heathrow to resume later this month. They will restart on 24 July and be operated by British Airways.
7th July – Consultation on extension of Southampton Airport runway to begin this week. It is scheduled to go live once all checks on the plans are completed by Eastleigh BC.
8th July – More than 100 jobs are at risk at Leeds Bradford Airport due to C-19. The airport has confirmed it is “consulting with colleagues”.
8th July – Natural England says Leeds Bradford Airport expansion should not be approved. The Government’s environment adviser says more evidence on potential impacts is needed.
9th July – MAG is ‘confident’ of funding position even if a second wave of C-19 strikes. The group owns Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands Airports.
9th July – Plans for Manston Airport are approved. It will be transformed into a freight cargo air hub.
9th July – New flights confirmed at Exeter Airport at the end of August. Passengers for the new flights to Manchester and Jersey will travel via Blue Islands, the Channel Islands airline.
10th July – Bristol Airport could lose a quarter of its staff in job cuts. It claims the coronavirus pandemic has ‘devastated’ the aviation industry.
10th July – Sutton Harbour Group announces new ambitions for ‘mothballed’ Plymouth City Airport. It is working on a new plan for the site which closed for aviation in 2011.
11th July – Stansted are to appeal rejection of expansion plans. Councillors said in January that the refusal was made in relation to noise, air quality and climate change matters.
12th July – Heathrow to rely on just one runway until October. The airport is taking advantage of the lull in air traffic to conduct repairs on the southern runway.
13th July – English councils poised to make cuts amid loss of commercial income. Jobs and services at risk as investments such as airports are hit by lockdown measures.
15th July – Southampton boss warns that runway extension refusal ‘would risk 2,000 jobs’. Opponents say the extension would impact the environment and increase pollution.
15th July – Details of new £125m rail scheme are published today. One of the aims is to improve connections to Birmingham Airport.
15th July – Liverpool Airport has defended new increased parking charges at its Express Drop Off zone, where drivers will now be charged £25 for one hour. Details can be seen here.
15th July – An article in International Airport Review about Gatwick Airport’s connections to public transport can be seen here.
16th July – Stobart Group sells rail branch to focus on Southend Airport. They have sold it for £1,000 to Bavaria Industries Group AG. See further details here.
17th July – Blackpool Airport petition to go before councillors. Petition was signed by more than 8,000 people calling for airport to be reopened to commercial flights.
17th July – East Midlands Airport should be at centre of freeport says local MP. Ruth Edwards says it connects to 90% of UK’s population within four hours.
17th July – Bournemouth Airport says it was one of the ‘busiest’ in lockdown. Its boss says it is planning for a ‘return to growth’.
18th July – Luton Airport’s drop in revenue sees borough council set emergency budget. Further details may be seen here.
20th July – Manchester Airport reopens Terminal 2. It marks the first time that all three terminals have been operational at the airport since late March.
21st July – Exeter Airport freeport could create 27,000 new jobs. Government is being urged to give the green light to the region as one of ten new freeports from next year.
21st July – Newcastle Airport criticised as car park prices go up. The airport has defended the rise in prices citing “challenging business conditions” since the C-19 outbreak.
22nd July – Petition for return of holiday flights at Blackpool Airport is rejected. Ruling council says it would take about £50m to bring it up to scratch and it would still lose money.”
24th July – London Southend Airport wins ‘Airport of the Year-South England’ Prestige award. For details see here.
24th July – Young activists plea for Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plan to be refused. They have sent an open letter asking Leeds City Council not to approve £150m plans.
24th July – Norwich Airport boss calls for APD to be scrapped for at least six months. He says this may save some routes ‘which might otherwise have to be withdrawn’.
24th July – Plans for Bristol Airport park and ride with 3,000 spaces revealed. A second site has been put forward in Hewish after a previous bid was withdrawn.
26th July – Bournemouth Airport also calls for government aid for industry. Regional flights are likely to bear the brunt of a slump in demand because of COVID-19 crisis.
27th July – East Midlands Airport announces new M.D. Clare James replaces Karen Smart who is leaving to take up a similar role at Manchester Airport, which is also owned by MAG.
27th July – New Stansted Airport M.D. predicts challenges ahead. Steve Griffiths, who has taken over from Ken O’Toole, joined the airport in 2018 from Transport for London.
27th July – Newquay/Heathrow flights resume. British Airways are now operating this route. Further details may also be seen here.
28th July – Carlisle Airport confirms there will be redundancies due to COVID-19 and Newcastle Airport also confirms likely redundancies.
28th July – Shadow Chancellor visits Gatwick Airport and backs support for aviation sector. With much of the town’s economy connected to aviation, the rate of predicted job losses as a result of C-19 is one of the highest in the country.
29th July – Heathrow CEO calls for C-19 testing at airports but Government says it is not a ‘silver bullet’ for saving holidays. More details can be seen here.
29th July – Heathrow Airport forecasts: 64% fall in 2020 traffic as revenue and profits slide in first half. It also expects 2-year delay on 3rd runway plans. This is because of COVID-19 crisis.
31st July – Leeds Bradford Airport boss confident aviation will take off again. He feels turning point will be when the public feel safe to fly and confident at what they’ll find at the end of their journey.
31st July – Bristol Airport is urged by campaigners to drop expansion appeal. The airport has until September 17 to announce whether or not it is going to appeal.
31st July – Liverpool John Lennon Airport receives £34m loan from Combined Authority to help give it stability. The airport is described as a ‘vital strategic infrastructure asset’.
Other Aviation Industry News
2nd July – Return of European routes to address ‘hugely damaging’ effect of lockdown at Aberdeen Airport. First European flights in months took off from the airport yesterday.
3rd July – PORTS of Jersey have expressed concern about the States’ decision to order a review of the £42m Airport project. Further details may be seen here.
3rd July – An article in Blue Swan Daily stating that the lasting impacts of the pandemic will ‘reshape the air transport industry dramatically’ and has left governments in a ‘completely powerless position’ to make the right recovery determinations, can be seen here.
2nd July – A full list of countries for which quarantine will not apply to people arriving back in England was published. Further details here.
4th July – An article in Wales Online titled: “The Welsh self-made millionaire who runs his own airport’ can be seen here. The airport in question is Pembrey Airport.
5th July – North-west travel industry welcomes lifting of quarantine measures. MAG CE said: “These travel corridors will open up the chance for people to enjoy a well-earned break”.
5th July – MP adds name to letter to Chancellor asking for tourism VAT reduction. Douglas Chapman devastated at the number of jobs being lost in aviation sector as a result of C-19.
7th July – An article in Passenger Terminal Today titled: ‘Advanced analytics and machine learning – the connected airport takes flight’ can be seen here.
7th July – Belfast International Airport’s boss says Northern Ireland’s omission from Government quarantine air bridge plans places hundreds of jobs at risk. Details here.
8th July – Cardiff Airport CEO is standing down. Debra Bowen Rees will stand down in August with Spencer Birns becoming interim CEO.
8th July – An article in Airport Technology titled: ‘Has COVID-19 extended aviation’s free pass to pollute?’ can be seen here.
8th July – European airport and airline bodies slam “patchwork system” of travel restrictions. They hit out at the divergent list of states from which each country will accept travellers.
9th July – The Shannon Group which operates Shannon Airport is hiring consultants to help draft a major sustainability programme. Further details may be seen here.
10th July – Two companies wound up following £25m Manchester and Glasgow airport scam. They didn’t even own the Manchester site at the time and had no legal entitlement to sell the 456 spaces on a leasehold basis.
13th July – UK airports renew business rates relief calls as job losses loom. The AOA today appealed to ministers to give airports a year of business rates relief.
16th July – Manston Airport passenger flight plans delayed by two years due to coronavirus. But planes will not start flying from the site until at least 2023.
16th July – ACI Europe, which represents European airports, say it does not expect passenger numbers to recover until 2024, one year later than it predicted in May. Details here.
17th July – Coronavirus forces British Airways to retire entire fleet of Boeing 747 jumbo jets. This happened with immediate effect.
17th July – DfT and CAA issue joint statement on their commitment to modernising airspace. For further details and to access the statement see here.
20th July – An article in Airport World titled: ‘Airport Cities can help future-proof airports – new report’ may be seen here.
20th July – Airlines want a one-year ‘holiday’ from APD. The tax adds at least £13 to adult air fares.
21st July – Call for government help as Edinburgh Airport warns of 2000 job losses. Airport warns up to a third of jobs may go as it struggles with economic impact of coronavirus.
21st July – £50,000 funding drive launched for commercial airport feasibility study. It would look at potential expansion of Bembridge airport for commercial airline use.
22nd July – Transport Minister is considering support for Shannon Airport. Further details may be seen here.
22nd July – AOA issues statement saying that its member airports are set to lose £4billion in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. See details here.
23rd July – CAA publishes an update that provides more detail on how they intend to replan work on airspace modernisation. The update can be seen here.
23rd July – An article in Airport Technology titled: ‘Aviation and wind farms: working together for a safer future’ can be seen here.
24th July – ACI World introduces Airport Health Accreditation Programme. It will assist airports by assessing new health measures and procedures introduced as a result of C-19.
25th July – Aer Lingus opens new regional base at Belfast City Airport. Further details can be seen here.
27th July – Spain quarantine rule is a ‘hammer blow’ for airlines says Aberdeen Airport chiefs. Travellers from UK now have to quarantine for 2 weeks when they return from Spain.
27th July – An interview in Airport Review with Passenger Director of IATA giving their view on how to achieve a seamless travel experience may be seen here.
27th July – 5,000 passengers a day are arriving into Ireland’s airports, with the UK topping the list. See more facts and figures here.
28th July – An article in Simple Flying titled: ‘New Technology Could End Drone Disruption At European Airports’ can be seen here.
29th July – An article in Business Travel News titled: ‘The battle over airport charges and slot waivers’ can be seen here.
30th July – Airport industry reaffirms commitment to climate action. Airport Carbon Accreditation programme has 300 airports working towards making positive contributions.
30th July – If you have ever wondered how long all the UK’s runways are when combined then take a look here.
31st July – Edinburgh Airport axes one third of its jobs due to the pandemic. A consultancy period begins today, with affected staff to leave the business on 31 October.
SASIG Library Additions
There were no library additions this month.