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European Commission Publishes ‘Airport Package’

At the beginning of December the European Commission published an ‘Airport Package.’ The proposals are intended to make airports more efficient so that more planes can use them. The Commission is worried that Europe will not have enough airport capacity. But there are some proposals about noise. The Commission wants more powers to try to make sure that there are fewer differences between the noise regulations in the different member states of the European Union. UECNA is disturbed that the Commission wants to replace the existing European Directive on airport noise with regulations. The regulations could make it for member states to introduce measures such as night flight bans which would protect residents. The European Union may make a decision in June. UECNA is lobbying MEPs to reject the Commission’s proposals. More details of the proposals can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air/airports/doc/2011-airport-package-communication_en.pdf

UECNA response : www.uecna.eu/IMG/pdf/Airports_Package_Response.pdf

Airport Protests across Germany

On Saturday 24th March over 20,000 people took the streets in six cities in Germany to protest against the growth of aviation. Here are two videos which give a flavour of the protests. The first, (with a special message for people in London!) is of campaigners against a 3rd runway having a protest picnic in the terminal 2 of the airport: The second captures the thousands of people who protest inside the terminal of Frankfurt Airport every Monday evening. Since the 4th runway opened in October up to 5,000 protestors have occupied the terminal at Frankfurt to complain about the impact of the noise. See pictures of the astonishing protests that are happening in Frankfurt every week.

Frankfurt Campaigners win Night Flight Ban

The campaigners at Frankfurt Airport have won a night flight ban after the German courts today (4th April) ruled in their favour. Flights will be banned from 11pm until 5am. It is thought the ruling could have implications for night flights at other European airports, particularly Charles de Gaulle and Schiphol which both have flights throughout the night. At Heathrow no night flights are allowed at Heathrow between 11.30pm and about 4.15am but the Government is under pressure to introduce a ban from 11pm until 6am. To read more about the Frankfurt decision: http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/br...

Night flights will form a key part of UECNA’s work this year

Thousands of campaigners occupy Nantes

On 24th March thousands of campaigners, protesting about the plans to build a new Nantes Airport at Notre-Dames-Des-Landes occupied the centre of Nantes as part of their continuing high-profile protest against the proposals. You can see the video of the protest: http://youtu.be/JYXtb6_giLM