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

Wednesday, 04 May 2016

BBC News

• Scanner failure causes airport delaysManual security checks cause delays at Birmingham Airport after technical problems mean scanners and metal detectors fail twice.
• End delay and expand Heathrow, say MPsThe government must stop putting off the "difficult" decision to expand Heathrow Airport rather than Gatwick, a Commons select committee has said.

Financial Times

• Ministers told to stop ‘dithering’ over Heathrow expansionMinisters should stop their “political dithering” over airport expansion in south-east England and make a firm decision this summer, a committee of MPs said on Wednesday.
• Lufthansa hit by first-quarter lossGerman airline group grapples with tough competition from EU budget airlines and Gulf carriers

The Guardian

• Heathrow expansion opportunity squandered, MPs sayTransport secretary urged to commit to timetable in light of Airports Commission report backing third runway
• Heathrow expansion opportunity squandered, MPs sayTransport secretary urged to commit to timetable in light of Airports Commission report backing third runwayDelaying a decision on a third runway has “squandered the opportunity” to act on evidence and expand Heathrow, a cross-party committee of MPs said as it called on the government to commit to a clear timetable. The Commons transport select committee described ministerial claims of progress in the decision-making process as “illusory” and demanded that the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, make clear what the outstanding areas of contention were. Continue reading...

The Huffington Post

• Norway Helicopter Crashed 'Caused By Technical Failure, Not Human Error' The Norway helicopter crash that killed 13 people, including a British oil worker, was caused by technical failure and not human error, according to investigators. Eleven passengers and two crew members were killed after the Super Puma aircraft came down near the city of Bergen on Friday. Iain Stuart, from Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire was among those killed. Norway's Accident Investigation Board said on Tuesday that its probe and visual evidence - including video of the helicopter's rotor propelling into the sea moments before it crashed - indicated sudden mechanical failure, the Press Asso...

The Independent

• MPs slam Government ‘dithering’ over decision on Heathrow’s third runwayTen months ago, Sir Howard Davies’s Airports Commission unanimously recommended that a third runway be built at Heathrow without undue delay. This week, a Transport Select Committee report has slammed the Government’s response, describing it as “political dithering”.

Times Online

• Build new runway at Heathrow, say MPs [Subscription]A new runway should be built at Heathrow to end years of political dithering, a cross-party group of MPs advises.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• £400m wing deal for Wrexham aerospace firmMagellan Aerospace UK has signed a contract with Airbus that helps to secure and create jobs

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Stop dithering and make a decision about Heathrow, MPs demandMinisters condemned for failure to make Heathrow decision which Newcastle Airport urgently needs

East Anglian Daily Times

• Thomson’s first long haul Dreamliner flies from Stansted AirportThe first long haul Thomson flight from Stansted Airport took off today (Tuesday).

Aviation Industry

• Air France's union fight handed to former Hollande classmateAn Airbus A318 passenger aircraft, operated by Air France-KLM Group, taxis at Venice Marco Polo Airport in Venice in February, 2015. The airline has appointed a former schoolmate of French President Francois Hollande as its chief executive officer, tightening ties with the political establishment and making it unlikely that the partly state-owned airline will squeeze unions for concessions as elections loom.
• Lufthansa Fares Under Pressure as It Struggles With RevampDeutsche Lufthansa AG said passenger fares are set to erode further this year as it grapples with unions over a restructuring of European operations aimed at stemming the flow of customers to discount rivals. The stock fell as much as 7.1 percent.
• Brussels airport reopens after attacksPassengers advised to arrive 3 hours before departure due to heavy security checks
• Spanish budget carrier joins airline lobby groupAirlines for Europe set up to campaign on issues such as APD and strike action

Other News Sources

• Race for title of UK's greenest airport is on as Heathrow and Gatwick hail Carbon Trust certificationAirports each announce latest award of Carbon Trust environmental management standards