Editor’s Highlights
March was a busy month in terms of aviation policy and a forerunner of what is likely to be an intense period of announcements, consultations and final policy statements over the summer period and early autumn.
The Budget brought an announcement on Freeports with a number of the locations chosen including an airport in their 45km zone (e.g. East Midlands, Southampton, Liverpool and Teesside) and an extension to the AGOSS scheme for a further 6 months – applications to be submitted by the end of May. That is also the deadline for the current wide-ranging night noise consultation – the Secretariat have put in place a dedicated online session with DfT for SASIG members to ask questions or raise concerns at 2pm on 20th April.
On 10th March the Interim Union Connectivity Review Report was published, accompanied by a new Treasury consultation on Domestic APD and a day later by a Transport Select Committee report assessing the impact of COVID on the aviation industry. A week after that, two important documents were published by ICCAN in the middle of Government review of the Commission and the Government announced a £5.5m funding initiative to kickstart airspace improvement projects which had slowed down due to lack of funding across the industry during the pandemic.
March was rounded off with the latest SASIG meeting and workshop (which included a presentation on a new approach to thinking about airport capacity in London and the South East that merits further consideration) on the 23rd – the same day the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill returned from the Commons with amendments, to be followed by a debate on the proposed expansion of Luton Airport on 24th March.
All in all, one of the busiest month’s for aviation policy in recent memory with April promising to be equally fast-paced with the publication of the final report of the Global Travel Task Force, the announcement of a crucial consultation on the decarbonisation of Aviation and re-commencement of work on the Regional Connectivity Study and Aviation Recovery Plan.
The Secretariat will endeavour to keep all members informed of all the latest developments as they happen through Newsflashes and Meeting invitations but the Library on the SASIG website – which is regularly updated (over 300 documents have been add in the last 5 years) – is also worth a periodic review and the Secretariat welcome inquiries from members at any time via [email protected].
Chris Cain
Policy Director
SASIG
Monthly Highlights
3rd March – Budget presented by Chancellor of Exchequer: includes the fact that eight new English Freeports will be based in East Midlands Airport, Felixstowe & Harwich, Humber, Liverpool City Region, Plymouth, Solent, Thames and Teesside.
4th March – Government Night flights consultation (LHR, LGW & STN) opens.
10th March – PM sets out his vision to boost transport connectivity across the whole of UK as part of ambitions to level up across the country. Government will also consult on cutting APD on internal UK flights and will commit £20 million to develop plans for upgraded rail, road, sea and air links. For further information, please see here.
10th March – Government publishes Union Connectivity Review interim report.
11th March – TSC publishes ‘The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the aviation sector: Interim report’.
18th March – ICCAN publishes its report on the future of Aviation Noise Management and also their 2nd Corporate Strategy 2021-24 – see here for further details and to access both documents.
19th March – Government announces £5.5 million to drive improvements to UK’s ‘motorways in the sky’ – see here.
23rd March – SASIG Members’ meeting/workshop and also Government announces consultation on APD reforms – see here.
Events, Meetings and Conferences
SASIG Meetings
(To note: depending on any restrictions continuing, some of these meetings may be held virtually).
21 July 2021: 10:30-1pm: SASIG full meeting/ afternoon workshop – Westminster Suite, LGA or virtually via Zoom – to be decided.
29 September 2021: 10:30-1pm: SASIG full meeting/ afternoon workshop – Westminster Suite, LGA.
15 December 2021: 10:30-1pm: SASIG full meeting/ afternoon workshop – Westminster Suite, LGA
External Conferences (please note: some changes due to COVID-19 crisis)
18-22 May 2021: Routes Europe: Bergen, Norway. (Previously 10th-12th May 2021)
28 June-1 July 2021: Passenger Terminal Expo 2021: Conference & Exhibition, RAI Amsterdam, Netherlands.
2nd September 2021: 2nd International Hydrogen Aviation Conference, Glasgow.
5-7 September 2021: World Routes 2021: Milan, Italy.
October 2021: ABTA Travel Convention, Marrakech, Morocco.
December 2021: 9th European Aviation Conference: Heilbronn, Germany
Parliamentary and Government News
Both Houses rose on 25 March 2021. The Commons will return on 13 April 2021 and the Lords on 12 April 2021.
3rd March – The TSC Formal meeting (oral evidence session): ‘The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the aviation sector: follow-up’ was held. The Aviation Minister, Robert Courts, MP and Richard Moriarty, CE of the UK CAA were among the witnesses attending.
3rd March – A written statement issued by the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales titled: ‘Future support for Cardiff Airport’ may be seen here.
3rd March – Budget: Government to renew the Airports and Ground Operations Support Scheme for a further six months from the start of 2021-22.
3rd March – Budget presented by Chancellor of Exchequer: includes the fact that eight new English Freeports will be based in East Midlands Airport, Felixstowe & Harwich, Humber, Liverpool City Region, Plymouth, Solent, Thames and Teesside.
4th March – Government Night flights consultation (LHR, LGW & STN) opens.
10th March – PM sets out his vision to boost transport connectivity across the whole of UK as part of ambition to level up across the country. Government will also consult on cutting APD on internal UK flights and will commit £20 million to develop plans for upgraded rail, road, sea and air links. For further information, please see here.
10th March – Government publishes Union Connectivity Review interim report.
11th March – TSC publishes ‘The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the aviation sector: Interim report’.
19th March – Government announces £5.5 million to drive improvements to UK’s ‘motorways in the sky’ – see here.
23rd March – Government announces consultation on APD reforms – see here.
Transport Questions: House of Commons:
8th March – Commercial Spaceflight
Statement made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Rachel Maclean regarding spaceflight can be seen here.
10th March – Union Connectivity Report and Aviation Tax Consultation
Secretary of Statement for Transport’s written statement – see here.
16th March – Union Connectivity Review
A debate asking the House to consider the Union Connectivity Review can be seen here.
16th March – Levelling Up
A debate on levelling up across the UK including transport links can be seen here.
22nd March – Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill (Lords)
A debate on a new clause which would place statutory duties on the CAA to reduce, minimise or mitigate significant adverse noise impacts of aviation can be seen here.
24th March – Luton Airport Expansion
The House was asked to consider the planned expansion of Luton Airport – see here.
Transport Questions: House of Lords
16th March – Climate Change Committee: Carbon Budget Report
The Government was asked further to the report by the CCC Sixth Carbon Budget report, published on 9 December 2020, what plans they have (1) to engage the public on, and (2) to ensure the behaviour changes included in, the recommendations of that report – see here.
18th March – Levelling Up
Statement made in House of Commons on 16th March can be seen here.
23rd March – Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill
Bill returned from the Commons with amendments – see here.
Parliamentary Questions:
Q.1. Question (HL13891) asked by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle on 4 March 2021: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of plans to expand Leeds Bradford airport in view of the recommendation in the report by the Committee on Climate Change The Sixth Carbon Budget: Aviation, published in December 2020, that “there should be no net expansion of UK airport capacity unless the sector is on track to sufficiently outperform its net emissions trajectory and can accommodate the additional demand”; and what steps they are taking to ensure that data are held on all proposed expansion plans at UK airports”.
A. Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 11 March 2021: “Proposals should be judged by the relevant planning authority taking careful account of all relevant considerations, including environmental impacts and proposed mitigations. The Government cannot comment on specific planning applications, such as that for Leeds Bradford airport, so as not to prejudice any consideration of proposals should they come before Ministers in the future. The Government is carefully considering all the Climate Change Committee’s advice, including on aviation emissions, ahead of setting the sixth carbon budget”.
Q.2. Question (HL13803) asked by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock on 2 March 2021: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the financial support provided to the aviation sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic was allocated to (1) airports, (2) airlines, and (3) other companies in that sector”.
A. Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 12 March 2021: “We estimate that by the end of April 2021 the air transport sector (airlines, airports and related services) will have benefitted from around £7bn of government support since the start of the pandemic. This includes more than £2bn through the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) and we estimate that the air transport sector will have received around £1bn in support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) up to the end of April 2021. We have guaranteed loans to airlines through the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (£25m) and we expect to pay out around £80m in grants to commercial airports and ground handlers by the end of the financial year, through the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS). Further cross-economy measures are also available to businesses in the aviation sector. Since the start of this year (2021) £3.4bn of loans have been partially supported through export development guarantees. This includes a £1.4bn loan facility for easyJet, and a £2bn loan facility for British Airways, which will be largely guaranteed by UK Export Finance. The Chancellor has announced the renewal of the scheme to help airports and ground operators with their fixed costs, with additional grants of up to £4m between April and September, an extension of furlough payments to September, and an online jobs market matching aviation employees with thousands of vacancies”.
Q.3. Question (160760) asked by Chris Elmore (Ogmore) on 1 March 2021: “To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has met with representatives from the aviation industry to assess what financial support they need to survive the covid-19 outbreak”.
A. Kemi Badenoch on 9 March 2021: “The Chancellor speaks to industry representatives on a regular basis about a range of matters, including support for the aviation industry. The Government recognises the challenging circumstances facing the aviation industry as a result of Covid-19 and firms experiencing difficulties can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including schemes to raise capital and flexibilities with tax bills. In addition to economy-wide measures such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the aerospace sector and its aviation customers are being supported with almost £11 billion made available through loan guarantees, support for exporters, the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility and grants for research and development. This includes £8bn of guarantees provided by UK Export Finance. In addition, the renewed Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme that the Chancellor announced in his Budget will provide support for eligible businesses with their fixed costs for a further six months, up to the equivalent of their business rates liabilities for the first half of the 2021-22 financial year, subject to certain conditions and a cap per claimant of £4m”.
Q.4. Question (162630) asked by Justin Madders (Ellesmere Port & Neston) on 3 March 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the comments made by Minister for Covid Vaccine Deployment of 26 January 2021 advising people not to book overseas summer holidays, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing sector specific support for (a) airline companies and (b) other companies in the travel industry”.
A. Robert Courts on 10 March 2021: “The Government recognises the challenging circumstances facing the aviation and travel industries as a result of Covid-19. The travel sector can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including schemes to raise capital and flexibilities with tax bills. We estimate that by the end of April 2021 the air transport sector (airlines, airports and related services) will have benefitted from around £7bn of government support since the start of the pandemic. The extension of Government-backed loans and furlough payments announced at the budget build on this and will help ensure this vital and vibrant part of the UK economy is ready to bounce back in the wake of the pandemic. We are listening to sectors affected by Covid to understand their recovery horizons, as we roll out the vaccine”.
Q.5. Question (HL13804) asked by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock on 2 March 2021: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much, in total, they have provided in (1) grants, and (2) loans, to the aviation sector during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
A. Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 12 March 2021: “We estimate that by the end of April 2021 the air transport sector (airlines, airports and related services) will have benefitted from around £7bn of government support since the start of the pandemic. This includes more than £2bn through the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) and we estimate that the air transport sector will have received around £1bn in support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) up to the end of April 2021. We have guaranteed loans to airlines through the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (£25m) and we expect to pay out around £80m in grants to commercial airports and ground handlers by the end of the financial year, through the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS). Further cross-economy measures are also available to businesses in the aviation sector. Since the start of this year (2021) £3.4bn of loans have been partially supported through export development guarantees. This includes a £1.4bn loan facility for easyJet, and a £2bn loan facility for British Airways, which will be largely guaranteed by UK Export Finance. The Chancellor has announced the renewal of the scheme to help airports and ground operators with their fixed costs, with additional grants of up to £4m between April and September, an extension of furlough payments to September and an online jobs market, matching aviation employees with thousands of vacancies”.
Q.6. Question (167344) asked by Angela Richardson (Guildford) on 11 March 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the development of a southern link to Heathrow Airport”.
A. Chris Heaton-Harris on 17 March 2021: “Work is underway to complete the Pre-Strategic Outline Business Case alongside the continued development of an appropriate commercial model to enable a ‘market involved’ approach for Southern Access to Heathrow (SAtH).The Department intends to provide further guidance to the market regarding the proposed commercial direction and next steps, including the process for selection of a development partner in Summer 2021.Government remains committed to SAtH’s status as a ‘pathfinder’ project that can harness ideas and expertise from the private sector to fund, finance and deliver this scheme”.
Q.7. Question (170658) asked by Lucy Powell (Manchester Central) on 17 March 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times the Jet Zero Council has met since its establishment; and how many officials work in the Jet Zero Council secretariat”.
A. Robert Courts on 22 March 2021: “The plenary Jet Zero Council has met twice. The Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Delivery Group and its subgroups have met eight times and work to deliver zero-emission aircraft is led by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). The Department for Transport and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy operate a joint Secretariat for the Jet Zero Council, and the Knowledge Transfer Network provides the Secretariat for the SAF Delivery Group. We have recently appointed Emma Gilthorpe, Chief Operating Officer, at Heathrow Airport, to serve as the CEO of the Council. Emma will ensure the Council delivers at pace, bringing with her a breadth of knowledge and experience to assist the Council.”
Q.8. Question (170636) asked by Jim Shannon (Strangford) on 17 March 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to reduce queues at Heathrow airport”.
A. Kevin Foster on 26 March 2021: “Wait times in airports can be caused by a number of factors, not just related to resourcing. This includes all mandated border security activity, the volume of immigration case working, additional support and checks in relation to Covid-19, and specific security activity. Our teams seek to balance this range of tasking each day. Whilst mindful of passenger wait times and experience, our primary objective is to ensure the security of the border. Like all public services operating throughout this unprecedented global pandemic, there have been additional pressures placed on Border Force and the safety of the public and our staff remains our priority. Resource and staffing requirements at every port, including Heathrow, are continually reviewed by Border Force working with airport operators including Heathrow Airport Ltd. Resources are deployed flexibly as and when they are required”.
Q.9. Question (167324) asked by Daisy Cooper (St. Albans) on 11 March 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date he plans to publish the aviation recovery plan; and whether it is his policy to make Government support for the aviation industry dependant on commitments to reduce carbon emissions”.
A. Robert Courts on 17 March 2021: “On 22 February the Prime Minister announced that the Global Travel Taskforce will develop a framework to facilitate greater international travel, whilst managing the risk of COVID cases and new variants, which will report on 12 April. The government is also currently developing a strategic framework for the aviation sector, which will focus on how the sector can build back better to deliver a world leading aviation sector for the UK. We expect to publish this framework later this year. This will include a thorough consideration of the sector’s contribution to the government’s target of a net zero economy by 2050”.
Q.10. Question (HL13835) asked by Baroness Randerson on 2 March 2021: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to undertake a review of aviation policy following the COVID-19 pandemic; and if any such review will include taxation of aviation”.
A. Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 16 March 2021: “As announced on 22 February 2021, as part of the roadmap for the phased lifting of restrictions in England, the Secretary of State for Transport will now lead a successor to the Global Travel Taskforce to develop a framework that can facilitate greater international travel when the time is right, while still managing the risk from imported cases and variants. In addition, the Government is developing a strategic framework on the recovery of the aviation sector, in response to the impact presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government has recently confirmed that the consultation on aviation tax reform, announced at Budget 2020, will be published in Spring 2021”.
Q.11. Question (HL13836) asked by Baroness Randerson on 2 March 2021: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government, what steps they are taking following the 2019 consultation on the future of aviation”.
A. Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 16 March 2021: “The 2019 consultation on the Future of Aviation took place before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the impact presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government is developing a new forward looking strategic framework which will focus on the recovery of the aviation sector. It will explore the return to growth of the aviation sector, which will include consideration of workforce and skills, regional connectivity, noise, innovation and regulation, and consumer issues. We will also consider climate change and decarbonisation. We aim to publish this framework later this year”.
Q.12. Question (161746) asked by Bill Esterson (Sefton Central) 2 March 2021: “To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from airlines on job creation in the aviation industry”.
A. Robert Courts on 8 March 2021: “The Government is developing a strategic framework for the longer-term recovery of the sector, which will focus on building back better and ensuring a successful UK aviation sector for the future. In addition, the Government recognises that aviation is home to many highly skilled and highly trained workers, who are essential to the recovery and future growth of the sectors, and we have launched the Aviation Skills Retention Platform to help retain vital skills in the sector and support its recovery”.
Q.13. Question (HL14132) asked by Lord Berkeley on 11 March 2021: “To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will announce the process for securing a private sector development partner for the Southern Railway Link to Heathrow Airport”.
A. Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 24 March 2021: “The Department remains committed that the Southern Access to Heathrow scheme, formerly known as Southern Rail Link to Heathrow, should be a ‘pathfinder’ project with increased levels of market involvement. Government intends to provide further guidance to the market regarding the proposed commercial direction and next steps, including the process for selection of a development partner in Summer 2021”.
National and Regional News
1st March – Cumbria coal mine opponents’ legal team to challenge Leeds Bradford Airport expansion. Critics oppose the scheme on environmental and noise grounds.
1st March – Unemployment claims in London airport communities rise at double the national rate. The data is from the All Party-Parliamentary Group for the Future of Aviation.
1st March – 6 Northern airports ask PM for help for aviation in forthcoming Budget. Letter has been signed by Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool John Lennon, Doncaster Sheffield, Newcastle and Carlisle Lake District Airports.
1st March – May start date for return of flights to Isles of Scilly from Newquay – see here.
2nd March – Southampton Airport expansion decision day confirmed. Plans to lengthen the runway at the airport are due to be voted on by councillors on 25 March.
3rd March – Heathrow passenger numbers fall to 1970s levels. It said 2020 was toughest year in its 75-year history and the loss “underlines the devastating impact of C-19 on aviation”.
3rd March – A written statement issued by the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales titled: ‘Future support for Cardiff Airport’ may be seen here.
3rd March – Gatwick records £465.5m loss as passenger numbers fall. Numbers fell 78% in the year ended 31 December 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19.
5th March – Gatwick Airport to bring vehicle drop off charges to South Terminal from April 12. This is in preparation for the expected start of international travel.
6th March – Bournemouth Airport’s bounce-back plan announced – see here.
7th March – An article in Travel Radar titled: ‘Heathrow Airport’s Sustainable Initiatives’ can be seen here.
8th March – Director appointed for GatewayEast development near Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Scheme could see up to 35,000 jobs and 3,000 new homes worth £6.5bn by 2037.
8th March – TUC and Heathrow call on Chancellor for ‘survival support’ for UK aviation.
9th March – Cornwall Airport Newquay announce start date for flights – see here for details.
9th March – New operator for Blackpool Airport. Blackpool Airport Operations Ltd, Blackpool Council’s wholly-owned subsidiary, will take operational licences back into its own name.
9th March – Loganair announce route from Teesside to Bristol and also Liverpool to City of Derry. Both of the new services are set to begin in May.
10th March – Heathrow says border queues are at an unacceptable level. Earlier this month, passengers complained of waits up to seven hours.
11th March – Birmingham Airport will be loaned £5.7m by council in its capacity as one of 7 West Midland local authorities who are shareholders of the airport holding company BAH.
11th March – An article in Travel Daily News titled: ‘Grounded: Impact of travel restrictions on UK airports revealed’ can be seen here.
11th March – Flights from Newquay Airport to resume at the end of this month.
12th March – New airline hopes to offer passenger flights from Carlisle Lake District Airport. Lakeland Airways is a new regional airline in the early stages of development.
13th March – Airports fighting for survival as smaller hubs lose 80% of customers in lockdown – see here.
14th March – Decision on Southampton Airport runway decision due this month. The plans are said to be vital for the future of the airport.
15th March – Stansted Airport facing crisis ‘on a scale like never before’. It is marking its 30th anniversary today – it was officially opened by The Queen on March 15, 1991.
16th March – Exeter Airport says it would ‘survive’ longer international travel ban. Bosses are also hopeful domestic travel will bounce back.
16th March – Campaign group launches documentary on Bristol Airport expansion.
17th March – UK airports saw fewest passengers last summer since 1975. Figures come from the CAA.
18th March – Some residents living near to John Lennon Airport brand expansion plans as ‘vandalism’. The plans have been backed by Halton Council.
18th March – Having a freeport around East Midlands Airport will help attract hundreds of millions of pounds of global investment says a senior official at D2N2- see here.
18th March – Electric flights to take off from Exeter Airport. This follows announcement of a successful bid to UK Research & Innovation £30million Future Flight Challenge.
20th March – Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission writes to Government re: Leeds Bradford Airport expansion plans. The plans were approved by City Council last month.
20th March – Alderney politicians back calls for Southampton Airport runway extension. The airport is a lifeline route for the island.
21st March – Southend Airport say they are in talks with ‘dozes of airlines’ over new permanent base. It’s also launching new system for residents to track aircraft movements.
23rd March – G7 summit: Newquay airport to get £7.8m for upgrades. Council report said the airport could not currently support “the needs of the aircraft types that will be arriving”.
23rd March – UK campaign groups and LLA support funds for airspace modernisation.
24th March – An article titled ‘Is Heathrow Airport’s third runway necessary in a post-COVID world?’ can be seen here.
24th March – Decision about Stansted Airport’s planning appeal is expected in summer. Owners MAG had appealed against January 2020 council decision to reject expansion.
25th March – Councillors reject Southampton Airport expansion plans – see here.
25th March – An article titled: ‘East Midlands Freeport: the opportunity of a lifetime’ can be seen here.
26th March – Heathrow making a major change to security measures when holidays restart. New technology will mean passengers can get through security quickly and smoothly.
27th March – Eastleigh MP disappointed over rejection of airport plans. He had urged councillors to back plans.
27th March – Newquay Airport funding will help spaceport plans – see here.
29th March – Mystery ‘online retailer’ in deal for huge warehouse at East Midlands Airport site. It has taken a 15-year lease but has not been named.
30th March – Luton Airport campaigners back government plans for overhaul of air routes network. Government is looking at rebooting airspace modernisation programme.
30th March – Belfast City Airport announces new COVID-19 testing centre – see here.
31st March – A BBC article titled: ‘Gatwick Airport: Can Crawley turn away from aviation and go green? can be seen here.
31st March – Southend Airport to pay £135k to neighbours over noise. It is connected to a rise in noise levels following the runway extension.
Other Aviation Industry News
1st March –Analysis by group of MPs with interest in aviation found jobless rate rose 145% on average in constituencies around the UK’s top 20 airports – see here for details.
2nd March – An article in Airport Review titled: ‘Airports take prime position in sector’s climate ambitions’ can be seen here.
3rd March – The TSC Formal meeting (oral evidence session): ‘The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the aviation sector: follow-up’ was held. The Aviation Minister, Robert Courts, MP and Richard Moriarty, CE of the UK CAA were among the witnesses attending.
3rd March – North Wales could lose direct rail links with Manchester Airport. Business leaders in region are urged to reject plans put forward by Manchester Recovery Task Force.
3rd March – An article titled: ‘The Population’s daily movement and activities: Does it matter for aircraft noise impact assessment?’ can be seen here.
3rd March – Slots waiver extended in boost to UK airlines. Due to expire in spring, the legislation to extend the waiver will come into force from 26 March 2021.3rd March – Budget presented by Chancellor of Exchequer: includes the fact that eight new English Freeports will be based in East Midlands Airport, Felixstowe & Harwich, Humber, Liverpool City Region, Plymouth, Solent, Thames and Teesside.
4th March – Government Night flights consultation (LHR, LGW & STN) opens.
5th March – DfT and the NI Executive have agreed to continue funding for the direct route from City of Derry Airport to London Stansted – see here.
5th March – Passengers face £200 fine if they fail to complete declaration to travel form. From Monday, people travelling internationally from England will need to complete and carry the document downloaded from the Government’s website.
5th March – Highland Council has agreed to help fund the creation of a PSO for Wick John O’Groats Airport. It came as the authority agreed its budget for the next financial year.
6th March – 72% of frequent flyers want to return to travel when restrictions are lifted says new survey. See further details here.
8th March – An article in Travel Radar titled: ‘Roundtable: what should the future of aviation look like?’ can be seen here.
8th March – An open letter written by a councillor in the Telegraph & Argus titled: “Why buy a house near an airport if you don’t like noise?” can be seen here.
10th March – MSP carries out survey of Glasgow airport noise. Residents were asked about the impact of noise from aircraft before and during the pandemic.
10th March – PM sets out his vision to boost transport connectivity across the whole of UK as part of ambition to level up across the country. Government will also consult on cutting APD on internal UK flights and will commit £20 million to develop plans for upgraded rail, road, sea and air links. For further information, please see here.
11th March – An article in Airport Technology titled: ‘Storm warning: airports adapt to a changing climate’ can be seen here.
11th March – SITA survey shows airports continue to invest in IT solutions – see here.
11th March – Auditors confirm slump in the value of Cardiff Airport. It is now worth a fraction of the money the Welsh Government paid for it just under eight years ago.
11th March – An article by Gary Cutts from Future Flight Challenge about investing in new aviation systems to secure the future of the industry may be seen here.
12th March – Irish airports benefit from rates holiday. Minister confirmed 29,000 businesses including airports will benefit from rates break which will come at a cost of £230 million.
13th March – An informative article in Travel Radar about airport identification codes can be seen here.
14th March – Glasgow Airport boss says Scottish holidaymakers ‘will have to travel to England to fly abroad’. He revealed airlines are already moving many routes to England.
14th March – ACI welcomes updated industry guidance regarding the global recovery from COVID-19 published by ICAO.
16th March – A BBC article titled ‘Why noise pollution is bad for your heart’ which includes information on aircraft noise pollution can be seen here.
16th March – A move to step up industrial action over plan to centralise ATC services in Inverness has been described as “unwarranted” by MD of Highlands and Islands Airports.
16th March – ACI says EU financial aid is not in line with Green Airport plan – see here.
18th March – Plans to introduce pick-up/drop-off fees at Dublin Airport have failed. Fingal Council have rejected permission for the necessary road infrastructure required.
18th March – An article in Airport World about the viability of using electrical vertical take-off/landing taxis with some of the focus on the UK south-west, can be seen here.
18th March – ICCAN publishes its report on the future of Aviation Noise Management and also their 2nd Corporate Strategy 2021-24 – see here for further details and to access both documents.
18th March – IATA Travel Pass to provide confidence for industry restart – see here.
19th March – Government announces £5.5 million to drive improvements to UK’s ‘motorways in the sky’ – see here.
20th March – Dublin Airport Community Fund will open on 22 March and will close 30 April – see here.
22nd March – An article in New Civil Engineer titled: ‘Airport industry counts the cost of COVID one year on’ can be seen here.
23rd March – Government announces consultation on APD reforms – see here.
24th March – Aer Lingus confirms start of direct transatlantic flights from Manchester.
26th March – Government urged to approve Arrivals duty free shops at airports – see here.
27th March – Expert warns progress could come be reversed if borders reopen without airport COVID testing. He is part of advisory group to Government.
31st March – Holidays and visits main reason given by 6,800 arriving into Dublin Airport last week. This was over 900 more than the previous week.
31st March – Blackpool Airport hit by downturn in aviation. The chance of commercial flights returning has dwindled even further.
31st March – City of Derry airport to ask British Government for funding. They are asking for £15m towards securing its future over the next six years.
SASIG Library Additions
Following the (virtual) meeting on 20 January 2021 between SASIG Chairman Keith Artus and SASIG Policy Director Chris Cain with the Aviation Minister, Robert Courts MP, members can see the follow-up letter and supporting documentation sent to the Minister and also his letter of response, by logging onto the members’ area of our website.
Documentation from the last meeting of the Airspace Strategy Board attended by SASIG Chairman Keith Artus may also be seen on our website in the members’ area.
Document from the International Transport Forum titled ‘Ready for Take Off? Integrating drones into the Transport System’ can be seen here.