First blogged 6 Feb 2012 - Heathrow delays

Wintry weather – Heathrow in the headlines again

February 6, 2012

 

40 per cent of flights were cancelled at Heathrow last weekend

It’s hardly surprising given last year’s major disruption due to snow that Heathrow hit the headlines again last weekend when it announced flight cancellations even before a single flake had fallen, writes John Barrington-Carver.

A common theme in the news was that European airports with as severe or worse winter conditions hardly missed a beat compared to the 40 per cent cancellation reported in the UK media. The tabloid Sun newspaper was “disgusted” and suggested BAA, which operates Heathrow, should shut down and hibernate in periods of bad weather conditions; the Independent was more moderate and said that Heathrow’s location makes it prone to fog and snow, but claimed that, since at times every airport could be defeated by these conditions, it would not make any difference even if the airport had a third runway.

Only the Daily Mail mentioned BAA’s explanation that as the airport’s two runways operate at 99 per cent capacity even the slightest delays can cause huge problems for the precise daily schedules that dictate landings and take-offs.

Not surprisingly BAA says more capacity can address this problem. More capacity is why those three and four-runway airports in Europe so praised in the UK press can handle weather-related delays because they have the extra landing and take-off slots needed to handle delayed flights.
How many times, even in good, weather have you heard the dreaded announcement: “This is the Captain speaking; due to the delay (for whatever reason) I am afraid we have lost our slot and there will be a while before we can take off”? Last week-end, at least by cancelling flights in advance, passengers were given sufficient warning and the possibility of being rerouted (at best) or saved hours at the airport waiting for information and a possible seat out. However, it’s not an acceptable situation that the UK’s main airport is forced to shut down or cancel flights because it cannot handle the disruption of snow or fog.

Unfortunately, the lack of political will to add a third runway at Heathrow is being dictated by local considerations rather than the urgent national need to ensure the UK’s future competitiveness and safeguard current and future jobs – not just around Heathrow but in the UK as a whole.  Yes we do need high-speed trains, but for the sake of 20 minutes’ travel time saved at a cost of £17 billion, would not just £9 billion be better spent on ensuring that Heathrow remains a key international hub with connectivity to the growing markets in Asia and South America?

The Boris Island airport as an alternative to Heathrow? I don’t believe so. Even if it gets past the considerable environmental hurdles that the location presents there is still the matter of funding the estimated £40 billion cost. Also by the time it got to be built, the opportunities for the national economy and for job creation will have passed by the UK. Anyway, even if a Thames Estuary site were eventually to built, Willie Walsh says BA/IAG would not move there.

Here’s a thought. Surely Northolt makes a commonsense alternative opportunity to rapidly address the runway capacity problem around London? In the post-war years until 1952 it was London’s main airport while Heathrow was being built. With its road, rail and tube access to Central London and proximity to Heathrow it would be a natural location for a third runway.
It’s 1,687 x 46 metre runway is large enough to operate Airbus 320s and Boeing 737s and might take Heathrow’s domestic and short-haul flights. Perhaps the RAF could be persuaded to share Northolt? Even better, the MOD, ever seeking savings, has just announced that it is considering the sale of Northolt.
(Image: travels of a monkey)

First Published Feb 8 2012 - The EU ETS Wasp's Nest

Poking a wasp’s nest – ETS stirs angry reaction

February 8, 2012

ETS is a charge on flights in EU airspace based on carbon emissions

As kids we were warned not to poke at wasps nests by our elders (and sometimes betters), writes John Barrington-Carver.
Having been stung a couple of times myself without so much as having even looked at the dratted insect I have always heeded this sage advice.

It’s a pity therefore that the EU has ignored the current angry stirrings emanating from aviation’s international hive of industry. This followed Brussels’ earlier unilateral decision to include all international airlines using EU airspace in its existing EU Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), thereby exacting an estimated €1.4 billion annual tribute to the EU’s coffers.

The scheme, implemented from 1 January, levies a charge on flights in EU airspace based on carbon emissions. An initial consequence when the scheme was originally announced was that the US challenged the legality of the ETS at the European Court of Justice.
Subsequently, the Chinese threatened to cancel their Airbus orders thus endangering thousands of jobs.

It’s perhaps not surprising, since the case was heard in the EU Court of Justice, that the US lost the case last month. Bolstered by the Court decision, the EU continues to blithely ignore these and other objections to the ETS.

Consequences for consumers are that yet another tax will be passed on to them by airlines which operate on wafer-thin margins.
However, “poking a nest” by unilaterally trying to impose legislation and taxes on other sovereign states will certainly have further consequences. More opposition is growing as 43 countries have already publicly objected to the EU plans.   Both China and India have already instructed their airlines not to comply and similar legislation is moving through the US Congress. Reportedly further legal challenges are in the pipeline. China has claimed that the plan could cost Chinese airlines €95m in extra annual costs. British Airways faces a bill of nearly €50m, the highest of any airline.
Unsurprisingly, the International Airline Association (IATA) representing 93 per cent of the world’s airlines has labelled the EU “Tax Bandits”.

It’s not that the aviation industry objects to being in an emissions trading scheme – far from it! The air transport industry has made global commitments to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5 per cent annually to 2020, to cap net emissions from 2020 and to cut net emissions in half by 2050 (compared to 2005 levels). IATA has also championed an international initiative by the United Nations’ ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) which already has 120 or more countries agreeing to it and which would put all airlines on a level international playing field as regards emissions trading.
If the EU are committed to including aviation in some form of carbon trading scheme they should support a global initiative that is ratified internationally rather than go it alone thus endangering EU jobs, international relations and unilaterally extracting fees from international airlines to top up EU coffers.

Brussels bureaucrats comfortably isolated from the consequences of poking this particular nest should have a regard for the potential for harm this legislation could do to their individual EU members’ economies if the rest of the world should retaliate as looks very possible.
(Image: alleswasfliegt)

 

Barbados Update for Visitors

October 4, 2011

 

Barbados East Coast - Bathsheeba

Barbados has one of the best infrastructures in the Caribbean and provides great sporting and relaxation opportunities, catering for those who just want to chill or those who want to watch or partake in sporting activities on land or water.
If you are flexible with your dates you should note that accommodation prices depend on the “Season”. High season is from 16 December until 15 April. The Christmas week can also cost a premium on top of High Season rates so it pays to check and shop around. Booking with one of the airline’s holiday sites or with one of the major tour companies is probably the simplest way to book a holiday in Barbados especially for a first trip to the island.
However, if you can be flexible and are prepared to consider alternative accommodation like self-catering apartments or Bed & Breakfast, you can save money which can then be splashed out on eating out and/or car hire. At peak holiday times the more popular restaurants and car hire companies need booking well in advance.

The people of Barbados are welcoming and polite. Beach vendors will respect you saying “No thanks,” but will appreciate an exchange of pleasantries. Politeness extends to the roads as well.
The island
The west coast faces the Caribbean and is called the “Platinum Coast” where the most expensive hotels and property are located as well as the restaurants aspiring to international reputations. The south coast also has great silver sand beaches and is where most of the popular hotels and accommodation are located along with a huge variety of restaurants and bars. The east coast is rugged and faces the Atlantic so is windy and has much rougher seas than the other coasts. It’s well worth a visit though – maybe combining a tour to Codrington College and St Nicolas Abbey, claimed to be the oldest brick built house in the Western Hemisphere.
Currency and cards
The Bajan (Barbados) Dollar is based on the US dollar; currently 2 Bajan to the US dollar and 3 Bajan to the British pound. The US dollar is widely accepted in cash and the pound to a lesser degree.
Visa and MasterCard are the main cards accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops as well as ATMs on the island. Most of the banks have signs at the ATMs telling you which cards are accepted.
Amex cards are accepted by the larger hotels and tourist-type shopping outlets and car-hire companies, but smaller businesses will tell you they cannot afford the whopping 7 per cent fee we were told Amex charge.
Transport
Airport to accommodation – If you are on a package holiday your operator will normally provide transport to/from your hotel and the airport. However, I have, in the past, waited the best part of an hour for stragglers clearing customs and baggage. After eight hours in the plane and early starts to catch it you may want to consider going to the Taxi Marshall near the arrivals exit who will book you a cab and tell you the correct cost for you hotel. If you do this, please tell your hotel rep at the airport that you do not need the transfer.
Local buses – Government buses are blue, privately-owned buses are yellow, many of which have aerofoils on the rear roof. As this implies, the drivers like to drive fast so if you are of a nervous disposition take the Blue bus. Both will cost you B$2 per trip, the adrenaline comes free on the yellow bus.
Route taxis, called “ZRs” (pronounced “Zed-Rs” and identified by the ZR number plate), travel to most points on the island. These small mini- buses can, at times, be crowded as passengers are generally never turned away, regardless of the number.
Car hire – best arranged well before your trip either via your tour company or the internet. It’s worth shopping around for the best rates. You will be required to show your current driving licence and will have to pay B$10 for a local licence. Personally I avoid the jeep-type vehicles. They have drop-head roofs but no side panels and it does tend to rain in Barbados at times. A yellow bus coming the other way (or overtaking you) in the rain will result in an impromptu soaking especially for the passengers!
Food and Drink
Wine is expensive! Local beer is great and a favourite is Banks beer, a lager beer of 4.7 per cent alcohol. Depending on where you buy its costs vary between B$4.5 and B$10! The local rum is Mount Gay (pronounced “Mungy” or “Mungay”) which predictably carries much less duty than imported spirits.
There are supermarkets in most of the main centres like Bridgetown, Holetown, Speightstown, Warrens and the St Lawrence Gap area. Food prices are comparable to the UK. Roadside stalls sell fruits and veg, but prices are not displayed so you need to know what the supermarkets charge to ensure you are getting a local and not a tourist price.
Restaurants – you are spoilt for eating out choices. Your hotel will have a book with most of the island’s eateries described in it and if you talk with fellow guests or your hotel concierge they will know the latest places to go for a drink or meal. Be warned though, prices are often more expensive than the UK, especially if you drink wine. Think £70-£100 for two at west coast “destination restaurants” although there are many reasonable places to eat and drink especially on the south coast. Chinese takeaways are a bargain – more than two people could comfortably eat for less than £30.
(Image: meglet127)

The first skirmishes of a potential trade war betwen the EU and nations opposed to its unilateral Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) being intrduces for all airlines using EU airspace which we blooged about earlier this year have now escalated into delays by China on Airbus aircaft.  http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/16/uk-china-europe-ets-idUKLNE82F01920120316

Apparently I set up this blog five years ago but then ignored its existence!  I have been writing on travel and aviation issues actively since then and will post some of the more recent ones here in date order.

Meantime, just a reminder that Air Passenger Duty goes up yet again on 1st April.  Unless of course  the Chancellor relentsin during his 21st March Budget  on the 8% rise now sheduled - If you believe in fairies then you might possibly be persuaded that this could just happen!