0871 360 2443| News Archive | Airport News Archive January 200925.1.2008 Possible Inverness Link With Heathrow Airport expansion British Airways is being called on to restore service between INVERNESS and Heathrow airport following the government’s approval of a third runway at Heathrow. Highland Labour MSP David Stewart said that BA’s boss made a public commitment last year to restore the service if Heathrow expansion was given the go-ahead. BA’s flights linking Inverness with the HEATHROW airport were discontinued in 1997. Stewart said he planned on writing to the airline’s CEO, Willie Walsh, to urge him to follow through with his promise. He commented: “Heathrow is the biggest airport in Britain. It’s very important for tourism and very important for connections with Europeand the rest of the world. I want to see this service back.” On Thursday, the government approved a third runway and sixth terminal for the busy London airport. Employer organisation, CBI Scotland, has said that the added runway would increase the likelihood of British Airways restoring the service. Iain MacMillan, CBI’s director, said: “It’s very important and we’ll remind British Airways of that as we move forward.” 26.1.2008 Development plans for Bristol Airport Bristol airport has launched a six-week consultation process to gather feedback on its plans for development.The airport will then submit a planning application to North Somerset Council for a range of improvements to its services and facilities. The proposed developments will include an extension to the terminal building, additional car parking facilities and new aircraft stands that will enable the airport to handle up to 10m passengers a year. Robert Sinclair, Bristol airport's chief executive officer, said the development will meet a growing demand for air travel to and from south-west England.
Environmental concerns will be considered in the expansion plans, with at least 20% of the predicted additional energy requirements to be derived from renewable sources such as wind power and biomass heat generation. The proposed developments will also include strategies to reduce the number of car journeys to the airport by passengers and staff. 23.1.2009 Aeropark attraction at East Midlands Airport Attractions don’t come much more authentic than our Aeropark. It’s a destination in its own right at East Midlands Airport, located in the north-west corner of the airport site close to the village of Castle Donington. It’s easy to find and is well signposted from the airport’s main entrance. To help find the best route, use the AA Route Planner, inserting the post code DE74 2PR. You can also use this postcode on your in-car satellite navigation system. The Aeropark is both an aviation museum and a viewing area where you can study the fantastic aeronautical technology of yesteryear… or just watch the modern jets of today landing and taking off at a vibrant international airport. The top of the viewing mound is just 170 metres north from the northern side of the main east/west runway at East Midlands Airport – making for fantastic viewing… and even better photographs. What’s even more amazing is that the Aeropark is run entirely by volunteers. In addition to the static aircraft exhibits and our popular viewing mound, there are picnic tables right across the Aeropark where you can sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds right above your head. All Aeropark facilities – including toilets and summertime catering - are suitable for visitors with restricted mobility and children in push-chairs, with the exception of the viewing mound. The Romney Hut, which was purchased from RAF Hereford and lovingly rebuilt by volunteers,dates back to WW2 and is a common sight at military airfields around the UK. Our hut houses engine exhibits and catering but also features a ‘working’ restoration and display area where you can watch aircraft parts being lovingly refurbished. 22.1.2009 Job Fair to be held at Cardiff Airport Cardiff International Airport, in conjunction with the jobcentreplus, is holding a Jobs Fair at the airport on Saturday, 31 January 2009, giving jobseekers a chance to find out more about aviation industry careers. Companies represented include:
The event will be held on the third floor of the main terminal building between 1000 and 1430, and is aimed at anyone with an interest in aviation industry jobs. Past fairs held at Cardiff Airport have proved to be very successful: 400 attended in 2007, leading to many employment offers. Aviation and the job opportunities that it creates is a major player in the Welsh economy, with Cardiff International Airport directly supporting over 1,000 jobs in the south east region. Margaret James, Head of Customer Services for the airport commented: "The aviation industry plays an important role in Wales and an event such as this Jobs Fair gives us a chance to show the career opportunities available in this exciting industry." The companies will be available to discuss all aspects of their particular roles within the airline industry, give information about possible job opportunities and commence their recruitment process for the fast approaching summer season 2009 17.1.2009 Snow causes delays at Edinburgh Airport Passengers are being warned of delays at Edinburgh Airport after heavy snow forced the runway to close for almost two hours. Three planes were diverted to Glasgow Airport while seven other aircraft were unable to take-off following the closure at 1130 GMT on Monday. A number of other outbound flights were also expected to be delayed. An Edinburgh Airport spokesman said: "We closed the runway due to adverse weather conditions." A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport, said: "Adverse weather conditions and low temperatures, which saw falling snow quickly turning to ice, required Edinburgh Airport to close its main runway at 1130 GMT. "However, work by our airfield operations team allowed the runway to be reopened at 1310 GMT and the airport is now operating as normal. "Three inbound flights were diverted to Glasgow Airport because of the closure and a number of outbound services have also been delayed. "Although the runway is back to being fully operational, there is potential for knock on delays during the course of the day and we would advise passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline." Passengers are being warned of delays at Edinburgh Airport after heavy snow forced the runway to close for almost two hours. Three planes were diverted to Glasgow Airport while seven other aircraft were unable to take-off following the closure at 1130 GMT on Monday. 17.1.2008 Leeds Bradford Airport creates 3000 new jobs Approximately 3000 new jobs are going to be made available in the West Yorkshire region after an expansion to Leeds Bradford Airport has been completed. The terminal building at the airport is set to be expanded in a scheme which is part of an overall plan costing around seventy million pounds. Leeds Council will be presented with the proposed master plan later this month and, if the planning application is accepted, work will begin early next year. The airport officials hope that the expansion to the terminal building will see passenger numbers increase to five million per year by the end of 2013. John Parkin, the chief executive of the airport, has spoken about the other motivational factor behind the scheme. Leeds Bradford Airport wishes to attract passengers who usually choose to travel to Manchester. Parkin believes that “we need to get the facilities and services here in our back yard so that we address the transport requirements of the region in the region”. The new terminal building will have a new passenger security screening zone, a brand new departure lounge, a better baggage reclaim hall, and improved facilities for immigration. The current building has often been criticised for becoming congested very easily and there is poor segregation between passengers arriving and passengers departing. Furthermore, access to Leeds Bradford Airport will be made easier, with £450,000 expected to be invested in improving roads around the airport. Rail options are also being considered at the moment. The airport currently offers 76 routes but this number is set to increase rapidly over the coming years. Biza flagship store opens at Manchester Airport Alpha Group plc announces the opening of Biza at Manchester Airport Terminal 1 - a new store offering an exciting new shopping experience. Manchester Airport hosts a remarkable new shopping experience with the launch on 23rd October 2008 of the innovative Biza store. Biza is unmissable – not least for the large, eye-catching monochromatic Biza logo that dominates the store entrance. Spectacular cascades of hand-blown glass bubbles form a vibrant visual focal point above the towering Champagne display and this ‘bubbly’ entrance is just the start of the remarkable and energetic Biza experience. The black and white specially commissioned Biza illustration – which is featured across the fascia of the Manchester T1 store, as well as on carrier bags and gift wrap – completes the stylish store image. Adapted from the word ‘bazaar’, Biza (pronounced Bee-za), offers a contemporary interpretation of that eclectic shopping concept, combining the modern, the familiar and the unexpected, in a totally captivating shopping emporium. The contemporary design of the store includes a ‘walk-through’ layout that draws the customer to investigate a series of product ‘hubs’ and lifestyle zones, which blend together as stages of the journey through the store. Each area is individually and imaginatively designed, creating a department store feel with a real sense of theatre. When developing the concept, an entirely new vocabulary was created to capture the essence of each of these distinct areas. Whilst not used within the store environment itself, these descriptive names were representative of each of the ‘zones’, which express their own distinct identity through a blend of established brands, exciting new products and special promotions. ‘Uthtopia’ represents a youth-focused space, featuring funky and affordable products for younger female travellers. ‘Adorn Me’ invites female shoppers to enjoy an indulgent display of fashionable bags, leather goods, jewellery and watches. ‘All About Me’ showcases the latest cult and niche beauty products and ‘cosmeceuticals’. 17.1.2008 Collapse of Flylal flights from Gatwick Airport Lithuanian Airline FlyLAL has ceased operations following the collapse of a deal with Swiss investment fund SCH Swiss Capital Holdings. The Swiss investment vehicle "did not fulfill" its obligations at part of a proposed takeover move, leaving FlyLAL with no option but to fold on January 17th as to not further increase the company’s losses and worsen the situation of airline’s creditors. Payments of up to the $1 million (£800,000) had been expected to clear the troubled airline's debts, but such payments were not forthcoming. "Signing the agreement on the sales of shares of FlyLAL, Swiss Capital Holding confirmed it‘s intention to invest into Lithuanian airline however breached the contractual obligations by not transferring the agreed amount of funds in due time," explained Vytautas Kaikaris, chief of FlyLAL. "We decided that ceasing operations of FlyLAL – Lithuanian Airlines is the only possible decision in the current circumstances. This decision is triggered by intention not to increase damages and worsen conditions of the airline’s creditors." Some 360 employees will lose their jobs as a result of the closure. Nearly 30,000 passengers with bookings will also have to "change their travel plans" following the FlyLAL decision, with more information for those affected here. 16.1.2009 Ryanair Announces new routes from Edinburgh Airport Ryanair revealed plans to add new aircraft and routes to and from more European destinations during this year's Spring and Summer seasons. New Boeing 737-800 planes will be employed at Bristol airport, Edinburgh and Alicante airports in order to open up the seven, twelve and four new routes to Edinburgh, Bristol and Alicante respectively. The Alicante routes to Derry and Knock will start June 4 while flights to Wroclaw and Bristol will begin on June 5 and July 3 respectively. Proposed Bristol routes include the destinations Alicante, Barcelona, Cagliari, Eindhoven, Limoges, Malta, Montpellier, Perpignan, Rimini, Seville, Toulon and Trieste. The airline will operate seven routes from Edinburgh airport including Carcassonne, Limoges, Leipzig (Altenburg), Malta, Poitiers, Rome and Zadar with increased frequencies for flights to Alicante and Dusseldorf this April. With the recent expansion, Bristol airport is likely to see up to 1.6 million passengers whereas Edinburgh airport traffic will increase to almost 2 million. Ryanair is promoting the expansion by selling 1 million seats at a pound each for trips across Europe during February and March, available for booking before midnight January 19. 16.1.2008 Improved Rail Service For Passengers At Manchester Airport Travelling to the airport by car ? Book Manchester airport parking or Manchester Hotels online For those passengers and businesses will reap the rewards of a new multi-million pound upgrade to Manchester Airport’s railway station which has just been officially opened by the Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon. The £15 million project to build a new platform is part of a large scale modernization project of the West Coast Main Line. It will greatly improve reliability for passengers and airport workers using Manchester Airport and increase the number of services running into Manchester station. Geoff Hoon said “Manchester is a major international gateway and this improvement to transport links will strengthen the local economy and bring significant benefits to passengers- that’s why the Government has backed the £8.5 billion upgrade to the West Coast Line. This new platform enables train services to run more reliably and provides extra capacity at the station which will encourage more people to use public transport to access Manchester Airport. It also helps deliver a 50% increase in the number of services between Manchester and London.” The Transport Secretary marked the platform’s official opening by unveiling a plaque. The project, which was completed 11 days ahead of schedule, started receiving trains in December 2008, after taking over twelve months to complete. 13.1.2009 Greenpeace purchase land earmarked for Heathrow’s third runway A group of campaigners opposed to the third runway at Heathrow Airport have bought a piece of land which is part of the extension plans and are prepared to strongly defend it. The Government is set to approve the new runway sometime this week along with a sixth terminal, although the decision may be delayed due to opposition from many Labour backbenchers. Both the Conservatives and Liberal democrats oppose the plans along with numerous environmental groups. Greenpeace have bought a parcel of land the approximate size of a football pitch and have invited protestors to dig underground networks of tunnels across it. This strategy was used against the Newbury Bypass in 1996 despite being ultimately unsuccessful. The group also plans to divide the land into small plots and sell to individuals all over the world, forcing BAA having to negotiate with each owner, prolonging the compulsory purchase process considerably. Greenpeace believes that the longer the things are delayed, the more likely the project will be side lined. Among those who signed the deeds to the site last Friday are Alistair McGowan, the comedian, Emma Thompson, the actress, and Zac Goldsmith who is a Conservative advisor on the environment. All three contributed a small sum towards the purchase price But most of the £20,000 cost was met by an anonymous donor. John Sauven director of Greenpeace stated “Many thousands of people will be prepared to peacefully defend their field in person, standing in front of the bulldozers and blocking construction. This site will become a focus for climate compaigners”. Greenpeace purchase land earmarked for Heathrow’s third runway. A group of campaigners opposed to the third runway at Heathrow Airport have bought a piece of land which is part of the extension plans and are prepared to strongly defend it. 15.1.2009 Easyjet Announce expansion at Liverpool Airport The UK’s largest airline easyJet, today announced further growth of their operations at Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA) as part of a wider expansion of services across the North West. The airline will be adding 3 exciting new destinations to their Summer 2009 schedule from early June: Dubrovnik on the Adriatic Sea in the south of Croatia, Naples in southern Italy and Bordeaux in south west France. The extra business will see the basing of an additional aircraft at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. easyJet currently has eight aircraft based at the Airport, offering a choice of flights to over 20 destinations and carried over 2 million passengers through the Airport last year. Commenting on today’s announcement, Neil Pakey, Deputy CEO of Peel Airports commented, “This is a great way to start the New Year. Further expansion of easyJet services at Liverpool is a sign of their continued commitment to low cost air travel both here on Merseyside and across the North West. It’s a tremendous vote of confidence for the Airport and its future potential at what is for many in the industry proving to be an extremely difficult economic climate to operate in.” This will be the first time we have seen scheduled services to each of these three new destinations from Liverpool, giving the region’s passengers access to low cost fares to an even greater choice of destinations” 3.1.2009 Delay on Third Runway for Heathrow The decision concerning the third runway at Heathrow has been delayed until next year following criticism from several MP s. Ministers had promised a decision this month, but the announcement has now been pushed back until the New Year. Government sources insisted that Geoff Hoon, the Transport Secretary, still wants to back Heathrow expansion, and said the timing had changed to give ministers time to consider some technical aspects of the plan in more detail. But the delay will be seized on by critics of the plan including the Conservatives and environmental groups hoping for a change. Mr Hoon earlier this year told the Daily Telegraph that unless a third runway is built at Heathrow, thousands of British jobs will be lost. Some 52 Labour MPs are among the 141 members who have signed a Commons motion urging the Government to rethink its plans for a third runway. Several ministers are also known to have doubts about expanding Heathrow. Business leaders support a new runway but environmentalists say it would encourage more flights and increase Britain's carbon emissions. Some residents in west London and Berkshire also worry that expansion will mean more aircraft noise. David Cameron's Conservatives oppose a new runway. A high-speed rail link from London to the north of England should be built instead, the Tories say. BAA, which owns Heathrow, say its existing runways are operating at over 99 per cent of their capacity. Advocates say expansion is vital in order to compete with other European "hub" airports like Paris'Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam's Schipol. |
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