Airport News - Europe.

Mar 17, 2008

El Al Israel Airlines, Milan Malpensa Airport

Pro-Palestinian graffiti written in Arabic has been found scrawled inside the cargo hold of an El Al Israel Airlines plane during unloading at Milan's Malpensa Airport, raising Israeli concerns about Italian airport security. Israel's flag carrier, which normally uses round-the-clock security for its planes, said in a statement it had demanded an investigation into Monday's incident, without giving any further details of what had happened. Italian police said the security breach was unlikely to have happened at Malpensa, as the plane had only just landed when the graffiti was discovered. The Israeli embassy in Rome said it does not comment on security matters. A source close to the Italian airport police said local authorities only learned of the graffiti after the plane left the Italian airport for Tel Aviv on Monday. Mar 12, 2008

London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow faced a security scare yesterday after a man with a rucksack scaled the perimeter fence and ran into the path of an aircraft. Armed police arrested the man and sniffer dogs found no explosives, UK media reported. The southern runway remained open throughout the incident but the northern runway was closed for a few hours, causing delays and some cancellations. "Clearly this incident is a matter of some concern, and will be fully investigated in conjunction with the police," BAA said in a statement. The incident poses additional questions about LHR's security. Some two weeks ago, environmental protesters opposing the airport's expansion plans breached security to unveil a banner on top of a parked British Airways aircraft. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are scheduled to open the new Terminal 5 in a ceremony today March 14. Mar 14, 2008

London Heathrow Airport

Queen Elizabeth personally opened Heathrow's $8.6 billion new Terminal 5 on Friday, a move the officials believe could reverse the airport's reputation for being rundown and overcrowded. The new terminal is designed to ease congestion at other terminals. Mar 14, 2008

London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow has been the target of protests from environmentalists angered at both the opening of the new terminal and further plans to boost traffic with the addition of a third runway and a sixth terminal. Last month protesters opposing the expansion plans breached the airport's security to unveil a banner on top of a parked passenger jet. Others chained themselves to the roof of parliament. Organizers have threatened more action. Television pictures showed several emergency cars with flashing lights parked on the airport runway. About two hours after the incident airport operator BAA said both runways had reopened. A spokesman for Queen Elizabeth said there were no plans to cancel her appearance at Friday's opening ceremony for the new Terminal Five. Security at the airport has also been a high-profile issue since 2006 when British authorities said they had thwarted a plot to smuggle explosives onto trans-Atlantic flights. Mar 14, 2008

London Heathrow Airport

Man Sprints Onto Heathrow Runway. A man sprinted onto a runway at London's Heathrow Airport on Thursday, the day before Queen Elizabeth was due to open its giant new Terminal Five, the second major security breach in less than a month. Police arrested the man and blew up his bag in a controlled explosion but found no bomb. A spokeswoman said police did not believe the incident was terrorism-related, although they were still not certain of the man's motive. Mar 14, 2008

London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow Airport plans to replace ageing Terminals One and Two would mean 70 percent of passengers will be using new terminals within four years. Heathrow began as a tented village in 1946. When it last expanded in the 1980s it was designed to handle about 45 million passengers a year, but it now squeezes 67.3 million through. Because of its crowding, Heathrow has had one of the worst rates of airport delays in the world. Business leaders have complained the logjam could jeopardize London's status as a global financial center. Mar 14, 2008

London Heathrow Airport

Queen Elizabeth opened a giant new terminal at London's Heathrow Airport on Friday Mar. 14, despite security breaches by protesters opposed to expanding the world's busiest international air gateway. The soaring glass and metal Terminal Five, Britain's largest enclosed space, will be the new home of British Airways, channelling passengers past Gucci and Prada boutiques and a restaurant by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. On the eve of the queen's visit, police arrested a man who ran out onto a Heathrow runway. Police exploded his bag as a precaution but did not find a bomb and said they did not believe the incident was terrorism-related. His motive was not clear. Green protesters worry the new terminal is just the first stage in a vast new expansion that will see a third runway, sixth terminal and up to twice as many passengers. Last month, protesters broke into the airport and wrapped a banner around a plane. Others chained themselves to the roof of the House of Commons. The airport's operator BAA, owned by Spanish firm Ferrovial, says passengers want luxury shops. Critics say the company should do more to speed passengers quickly onto planes and less to try to make money from them as they wait. Mar 14, 2008

London Heathrow Airport

What makes a good airport? After 20 years and more than $8 billion, Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 will open Friday, prompting critics to question exactly what London is getting for its investment. Among the requirements for a "good airport," experts say, are intuitive signage, airy architecture, easy transportation links, short lines and discreet, desirable retail outlets. Mar 12, 2008

London Heathrow Airport

UK Civil Aviation Authority said London Heathrow would be allowed to charge GBP12.8 (USD$25.7) per passenger in the year starting April 1, and increase this by no more than retail price inflation plus 7.5 percent in the subsequent four years. The regulator had proposed a price cap of GBP11.97 in November, but said it was increasing this to take account of the need for additional investment and security. The CAA set a price cap of GBP6.79 per passenger for London's Gatwick Airport, which is also run by BAA, up from its previous proposal of GBP6.07. BAA said the rise in charges was still not enough. Nonetheless, BAA said the new charges would allow it to finalize its refinancing plans. Mar 11, 2008

Lufthansa

Lufthansa is looking to enhance its airport product as well. By 2013 it will invest euro150 million to refurbish its worldwide lounge network. It has opened new premium facilities at Cologne, with other German airports to follow, while a new lounge concept is being developed at Frankfurt for Airbus A380 operations. Mar 14, 2008

ZZ

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