Are domestic flights things of the past

Chinese high speed trains lining up to take intercontinental market

Flying within the UK is heading for extinction, the UK transport secretary, Philip Hammond has claimed.

“Domestic flying in the UK will become in time a thing of the past,” transport secretary Philip Hammond told the UK Financial Times in an interview on the new government’s plans for aviation.
Mr Hammond, whose government has vetoes new runways at the country’s three Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, says fast train links will be critical to addressing growing demand for air travel.

All this, naturally raised voices from the airlines: Flybe said “UK domestic aviation will be unaffected by the limited, London-centric nature of any high-speed rail investment that might be forthcoming over the next few decades,”

“Indeed, there is a very strong argument that aviation which serves regions like the West Midlands and the north-west will actually see an increase in demand as a result of high speed rail.” BA also dismissed the idea that domestic flights would end. “There will still be demand from people in the UK regions who want to fly into the hub airport of Heathrow, particularly if the high speed rail links don’t link directly to Heathrow,” it said.

A Ryanair spokesman apparently told the FT that air passengers would not switch to rail in the UK “because the trains are so slow and so expensive”. Both Ryanair and EasyJet said the more pressing issue for the government was reforming the UK’s APD – shortly to be more in favour
It appears that there is still a thriving domestic aviation industry in Germany and France, which had the best high-speed rail networks in Europe.

Mr Hammond talked of the smarter use of airspace and “spare capacity in the Stansted runway” and, for a more comprehensive policy response, we must await the results of an aviation working group he set up earlier this month to look at making Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted what he likes to call “better not bigger” airports.

In a separate move, UK Airport Operators have launched new guidelines to reduce aircraft ground emissions – a major initiative to reduce the carbon emissions of aircraft on the ground at UK airports was launched by the Airport Operators Association at their Environmental Conference.
 
Developed by the UK’s largest airport operator BAA through the Sustainable Aviation coalition, the Aircraft on the Ground CO2 Reduction Programme offers guidelines to airports working with partners to cut aircraft ground movement CO2 emissions and also improve local air quality. The programme seeks to capture best practices across the industry today with potential for even greater efficiency improvements in the future.

 Aircraft ground operation CO2 emissions can be significant. Practical action steps for airports, airlines, air navigation service providers and ground handling companies to reduce emissions are clearly set out in the innovative programme.

Amongst the initiatives being outlined are savings through reduced engine taxiing as well as use of fixed electrical ground power and pre-conditioned air, instead of keeping auxiliary power units running on planes when stationary. It is estimated that these two projects at Heathrow are already saving 100,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

AOA member airports have been invited to sign up to a twelve month period, examining how best to implement the programme’s action steps, and further develop the aviation industry’s understanding of and ability to manage carbon dioxide emissions on the ground. So far 15 airports across the country have joined the programme, representing 70% of all passenger traffic in the UK.

Commenting on the guidelines, AOA Chairman Ed Anderson says: "Airports have an important role to play in reducing the environmental impact of aviation. This new, exciting scheme will complement the existing great work being done by airports across the country and enable all to share best business practice going forward. It’s not a case of competition, as the industry must work together to take action on environmental challenges.”

What do you favour?
Trains or planes?

Valere Tjolle

Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite, special offer at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1142003.php