Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Saturday, 01 November 2014

BBC News

• Date set for airport limit inquiryA date is fixed for a public inquiry into a controversial proposal by George Best Belfast City Airport to change one of the rules of its planning permission.
• Vision for Prestwick Airport growthA long-term vision is set out for Prestwick Airport - a year after it was taken into public ownership amid fears it could close.
• Charity defends airport green taxThe conservation charity WWF Scotland cautions against moves to scrap Air Passenger Duty for departures from Scotland.

Financial Times

• IAG raises 2014 profit targetBritish Airways’ parent benefits from rivals’ problems and restructuring at Spanish subsidiary
• IAG chief dismisses extra Gatwick runwayFear that landing fees levied on airlines will rise significantly
• Virgin Galactic ship suffers fatal crashCompany says ‘serious anomaly’ resulted in loss of SpaceShipTwo in Mojave desert

The Guardian

• One pilot dead as Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo rocket plane crashesVirgin Galactic says plane designed for commercial space travel was undertaking test flight in California when in-flight anomaly occurredBransons ambitious project beset by problems and delaysA Virgin Galactic spacecraft crashed after an explosion during a test flight over the Mojave desert on Friday, killing one of the pilots, seriously injuring another and leaving debris scattered over a wide area. The plane, SpaceShipTwo, was undertaking a test flight as part of Sir Richard Bransons plans for commercial space travel when a serious anomaly occurred, the company said. Branson was on his way t...
• MH17: more human remains found at crash site, says Dutch PMMark Rutte says lull in fighting allowed investigators to re-enter eastern Ukraine site where Malaysia Airlines plane came down A Dutch team took advantage of a pause in fighting between government forces and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine on Friday to recover human remains from the Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash site, the Dutch prime minister said.Mark Rutte said the team recovered human remains from the so-called burn site where the plane hit the ground, but he gave no more details. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Prestwick in running to become UK's first hub for space touristsPrestwick Airport is unlikely to attract new airlines or passenger services in its current state but could be revitalised if a bid to become the UK's first spaceport succeeds, a new report suggests.

The Telegraph

• Virgin Galactic spaceship was intended to solve 'some of our biggest problems on earth'Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo, which has crashed during a test flight over California, was intended to be so influential that it could help to solve
• Virgin Galactic crash: Branson vows to carry on with his space questSir Richard Branson makes his 'most difficult trip' to crash scene in the Mojave desert as he vows to persevere with his plans for space tourism

Mail Online

• Thomas Cook plane forced to return to Gatwick after escape slide fell off The Thomas Cook Flight left the West Sussex airport at 9am with 237 passengers on board but had to turn back a short time into its flight to Hurghada after a part plunged to the ground.
• Jet 2 and Thomson Airways face claims up to £10bn after losing court case Britain's highest court refused to hear appeals by Jet 2 and Thomson Airways against two passengers who won compensation after being left stranded by them.
• Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo exploded at 45,000ft: One pilot dead and another critical as Richard Branson's $500m space tourism plane blows up testing new fuel over California desert  The experimental spaceship exploded over the Mojave desert during a test flight. Two pilots were onboard, and Virgin Galactic says their status is 'unknown'.

This is Money

• Shareholders in IAG set for first dividend since BA merged with Spanish carrier Iberia An investor payout is widely expected to be announced as soon as next month after IAG hiked profit expectations following a strong third quarter.

Carlisle News & Star

• From Carlisle airport to New York for just £200? Stobart Group chief executive Andrew Tinkler says Carlisle Airport will open transatlantic connections – for around £200

Aviation Industry

• Monarch Airlines finalizes order for 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8sMonarch Airlines has finalized an order for 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, worth more than $3.2 billion at current list prices. read more
• Air travellers pay £27 billion in APDStudy reveals cost to passengers of UK aviation tax over the last 20 years
• American to add Heathrow-Los Angeles flightSecond daily flight to Californian city will start from spring 2015