The British Government will present plans to build a third runway at Heathrow which will effectively double the number of flights from the airport. The Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly will publish proposals today for building a new runway dedicated to short-haul flights by 2020. In the interim, she intends to allow up to 60,000 more … Read More
aircraft travel
Tories Back Taxes on Flights
The leader of the UK Conservatives, David Cameron is set propose a number of green taxes, including the imposition of VAT on aviation fuel on domestic flights and a new airline passenger tax linked to the carbon efficiency of the flight. The Conservative party’s quality of life report, chaired by ex-Minister John Gummer, and Zac … Read More
EU Aviation Plans “Deluded”
EU plans to include aviation in its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will have minimal effect without a major rise in carbon prices, according to a new scientific study. “We delude ourselves if we believe the proposed framing of the EU ETS is in keeping with the EU’s own and repeated commitment to limit climate change … Read More
Six Hurt in Climate Protest
The British police showed their usual degree of heavy-handiness yesterday, when six people were injured and 14 arrested after clashes between police and climate change protesters near Heathrow airport. Skirmishes were still continuing last night and protests over the aviation industry’s growing carbon emissions and attempts to expand Heathrow airport are expected to continue until … Read More
Almost Half UK Want Green Tax on Air Travel
There may be a war of words at the moment between protestors and the airline industry at the climate camp outside Heathrow over the damage caused to the climate by aviation, but there is more bad news for the aviation industry. A major public survey has shown that public attitudes to flying have hardened in … Read More
Thousands Expected at Heathrow Climate Camp
Thousands of protesters are expected to arrive today at the “Climate Camp” near London’s busiest airport, Heathrow today, despitethe injunction taken out last week by the airport’s operator, BAA. It is also despite the predictable heavy-handiness of the police. The camp is part of a week-long protest against plans to expand the airport, which organisers … Read More
“Bullying” BAA Seeks “Mother of all Injunctions”
BAA, the operator of London’s largest airport, Heathrow, will return to the High Court today to seek “the mother of all injunctions” to prevent thousands of people affiliated to environmental organisations from attending the Camp for Climate Action at the airport from 14 to 21 August. The company says it wants to “protect the airport … Read More
BA Fined $250 Million for Price Fixing
British Airways is to pay a record fine of nearly $250 million after admitting price fixing on fuel surcharges on its long-haul flights. It is the biggest-ever penalty imposed for infringements of competition law by the British Office of Fair Trading, which said this morning that it demonstrates its determination to “deal vigorously” with anti-competitive … Read More
Victims of Oil
The shop around the corner raised the price of sandwiches by a quarter this week. Although the housing meltdown is raising concerns that it may take the whole American economy down with it, prices are going up and the reason is the cost of oil. Oil, and therefore gas, prices remain at near-record levels. A … Read More
Air Transport is Being ‘Scapegoated’ Over Climate
For months there have been consistent rumours of a concerted air industry fight back over climate change, especially in the UK, where airlines and climate has become the latest environmental battle-ground. A new front group, Flying Matters, has been formed with backing from most of the major airlines. Now, the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) … Read More