Publication date: 9th April 2007
Open Skies Agreement Puts Pressure on Heathrow
The recent open skies treaty agreed between the UK and the EU will liberalise transatlantic flights by opening up the routes to competition. It is predicted that the number of flights between the United States and Europe could increase by half over the next five years. Essentially, the treaty will allow any airline to operate from virtually any airport in Europe to virtually any airport in the US. In the UK, it is bound to add to the pressure for expansion at Heathrow as the airport is currently almost full, but is regarded as the gateway to America.
Heathrow 3rd Runway/2nd Stansted Runway to be Twin-tracked?
In an interview with the Sunday Times BAA chief executive Stephen Nelson said that the company was looking to “twin-track” the proposed Heathrow and Stansted runways. The original intention had been to go for a 2nd runway at Stansted first followed by a 3rd runway at Heathrow (assuming air pollution levels could be kept within the EU legal limits).
It now appears that the timetable could be something like this:
Summer 2007: Publication of Project Heathrow Study into future air pollution levels around Heathrow. The Government is expected to go for the highly optimistic scenario that air pollution limits can be kept within the EU legal limits due to a mix of cleaner planes and controls on car traffic around the airport.
Autumn 2007: Consultation on a 3rd runway, 6th terminal and proposals to end runway alternation. At present planes landing over West London switch runways at 3pm to allow residents a half day’s peace and quiet. The Government wants to end this practice in order to make fuller use of the existing runways. It could eventually mean residents having a plane landing overhead, one every ninety seconds, virtually throughout the day.
Winter 2007: BAA expected to move towards a Public Inquiry into a 2nd runway at Stansted.
March 2008: Terminal 5 set to open at Heathrow. This will provide the extra terminal capacity to allow BAA to bring in extra planes on the existing runways.
End 2008: BAA moves towards Public Inquiry into 3rd runway at Heathrow?
Opposition Mounting to Expansion at Heathrow
The Government will face what HACAN has described as ‘the mother of all battles’ if it proceeds with any further expansion at Heathrow. Those opposing expansion include:
• HACAN and NOTRAG (No Third Runway Action Group)
• 2M — representing the local authorities in West London and Berkshire
• The vast majority of the areas MPs and the Mayor of London.
• Local and national environmental groups including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the National Trust
• The Liberal Democrat and Green Parties
• Environmental activists across the UK, including direct action networks such as Plane Stupid
Car Congestion Charges Loom for Heathrow
Heathrow airport could become the centre of Britain’s second congestion charge zone under plans drawn up by the Department for Transport (DfT) to reduce pollution. The toll would apply to all drivers near the airport, possibly including those simply passing by on the M4, the main west-bound motorway out of London. The cost of the toll has not yet been decided but the plan looks at the impact of charges up to £10. It also predicts the impact of additional charges, ranging from £2 to £20, on all drivers entering the airport to collect or deliver passengers.
Heathrow Residents Disrupt Transport Secretary’s Speech
A party of West London residents and members of Plane Stupid confronted Douglas Alexander, the Transport Secretary, at an airline industry conference at Chatham House, Central London on March 6th.. The party managed to storm past security, and interrupted Mr Alexander’s speech. John Hunt, of Isleworth, led the charge on to the stage and delivered a speech denouncing the Government’s plans for a third runway at Heathrow before being escorted away by a security guard. At the same time residents staged a demonstration outside Chatham House.
Local Authorities Win Judicial Review on Night Flights
A judicial review is to be launched by a number of West London authorities to try and overturn the current night flights regime at Heathrow Airport. A High Court Judge gave permission this week for the legal challenge to go ahead and it is set to be heard in the High Court in May or June.