Airport News - Europe.

Jun 11, 2007

Bangkok, London and Paris airports are monopolies and pricing structure is "outrageous," says IATA CEO, Giovanni Bisignani. Jun 6, 2007

Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Delta Air Lines

Van Wijk confirmed that discussions were taking place between KLM's partner Air France and Delta. With the introduction of Eurostar services from St. Pancras to Paris in November the loss of a few flights out of London to the French capital would not be noticed. Delta is already established between Gatwick and New York, but it is its Atlanta flight that might move first. Air France would promote the flights as part of its system under the code share arrangement. West coast destinations in the US have not been ruled out. Jun 5, 2007

Amsterdan Airport Schiphol

Amsterdan Airport Schiphol will need a sixth runway to accommodate its anticipated growth, Schiphol Group indicated in its long-term outlook published last week. AMS expects passenger throughput to grow 84.4% to 85 million by 2025, with freight more than doubling to 3.5 million tonnes. Runway capacity will need to increase from last year's 423,122 flights to 600,000-650,000 by 2025, with a new passenger area constructed by 2015, the airport said. The plan also calls for more selective use of nighttime capacity and a slot policy prioritizing. The report further suggests "providing relief" for AMS by taking outbound transfer traffic not tied to the main port and relocating as much as possible to other Dutch airports. It said regional airports like Eindhoven and Lelystad may be suitable options. Schiphol Group has a 51% share of Eindhoven and fully owns Lelystad. Jun 5, 2007

London BAA

London BAA, the former BAA Plc, and now owned by a consortium led the Spanish Ferrovial engineering group, has joined Future Heathrow, the campaign for the sustainable growth of Heathrow Airport, to argue the case that expansion is vital to UK competitiveness. The move is a sign BAA is increasingly confident that further growth of the airport is possible within environmental limits on noise, air quality and surface access as set out by the Government in its 2003 Air Transport White Paper. In August 2005 we reported on a plan to expand Heathrow with a project known as T6, or London Airport North. It would involve building a new short runway and terminal building in an area north of the M4 (as shown above). Using much of the original 1944 scheme for the then Heath Row, the plan does include the loss of 700 properties including the entire village of Sipson and also part of Harmondsworth. Jun 11, 2007

London Gatwick Airport, Sofitel

New London Gatwick Airport Lounge from Sofitel. Sofitel, the upscale brand from hotel group Accor, has opened its doors to the International Arrivals Lounge at London Gatwick's North Terminal - the first hotel lounge at the airport. So far British Airways and Delta have signed up as airline partners to the new concept. The lounge is for designated First and Business class passengers traveling on the lounge's partner airlines and has been launched to coincide with the hotel's new 'Sunrise Check-In' service for business travelers arriving early in the morning. Jun 4, 2007

London Heathrow. Skyteam

Details regarding the Skyteam airlines moving into London Heathrow T4 from new April are still to be worked out and that schedule might affect the timing of the introduction of the new services. Air France is the largest of the Skyteam airlines to change, but with its present home T2 closing the move will relatively easy and should not put pressures on any refurbishment of T4 when British Airways moves out. KLM is already in T4. Jun 5, 2007

Norwegian

IER said Norwegian Air Shuttle chose the IER 918 CUSS kiosk for self-check-in at seven airports in Norway and Sweden. It has ordered 53 kiosks. Jun 8, 2007

ZZ

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Jun 4, 2007