Newcastle International Airport

Global Airport Development preview: 'Y Viva Aeropuertos Espanoles'

Oh this year I'm off to Sunny Spain, Y Viva Espana!
I'm taking the Costa Brava 'plane, Y Viva Espana!
If you'd like to chat a matador, in some cool cabana And meet senoritas by the score, Espana por favor!!♪

(A 1970’s song popularised by Sylvia Vrethammar, which unaccountably sold over one million copies.)

The 18th Annual Global Airport Development (GAD) conference gets under way in Barcelona, Spain on 07-Nov-2011, running through until 11-Nov. Last year’s event, in Dublin, was dominated by concerns about Irish and UK passenger taxes. This year the main talking point will undoubtedly be the postponed concession deal on the airports in Barcelona, where the event is being held (foresight or fortune?), and Madrid. But there will be plenty else to discuss as we attempt here to anticipate the main concerns.

Air Malta troubles worsen as unions flex muscle and LCCs grow

Air Malta’s troubles have become more acute as the struggling carrier’s unions increase their opposition to large-scale redundancies. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has stated the present situation is increasingly worrying, particularly in light of the EUR77 million the government has poured into the airline since Jun-2011.

BAA again forced to sell two airports

BAA once again finds itself forced to sell two of its remaining six airports as Britain’s Court of Appeal upheld and reinstated the Competition Commission’s (CC) decision from Mar-2009 that it must sell London Stansted Airport and either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports in Scotland. BAA’s original argument was that the sale of London Gatwick Airport had been ‘forced on it’ (though it took the decision to sell in advance of the formal announcement) at a bad time economically and that it did not want to repeat the exercise any time soon. The knock-on effect might be considerable as Ryanair ramps up its efforts to convince the Irish government to break up and sell off parts of the Dublin Airport Authority.

Emirates makes its first A380 ‘regional’ flight, to Manchester; a new era in more ways than one

An Emirates A380 made its inaugural flight from Dubai to Manchester on Wednesday 01-Sep, the first time this type of aircraft has been operated into a ‘regional airport’. The deployment of the A380 beyond primary airports like Singapore, Frankfurt, Paris and Sydney has come sooner than most industry analysts expected. As a case study, of service to a “regional” airport, a new era of opportunities may be opening up for second and third tier airports; the motto - be prepared!