HEATHROW


Review finds ‘significant flaws’ in Heathrow third runway


AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW by aviation consultancy Ebeni UK has identified ‘serious issues’ with Heathrow airport’s third runway plan, citing safety, capacity, operating efficiency, impact on residents, departure routes and the environment. The review was commissioned by Heathrow Hub, which said it wanted to “make up for the failure of either Heathrow airport, the Airports Commission or the Department for Transport to conduct a safety review”. Heathrow Hub has proposed its own solution to the Heathrow expansion in the form of an extension to the existing northern runway westward away from London.


The report’s key findings include an assertion that the new runway would not be able to safely operate the 740,000 annual flights proposed by the airport management. It argues that the middle runway would only be able to operate at two-thirds the capacity of the other two runways due to safety constraints, resulting in fewer than 700,000 flights a year. Heathrow Hub also claims the noise impact of the third runway would bring around 20 per cent more residents into the noise footprint than its own proposal. It argues that Heathrow’s plan would extend overflights to “at least 60,000” people in west London, which would reduce currently available noise abatement procedures. Finally, the report found a third runway would strain airlines, claiming they would face “significant” operational costs as a result of longer taxiing distances and less efficient approach and departure routes. Heathrow Hub said it will submit the full version of its report to the Department for Transport and the Commons Transport Select Committee for review.


ACQUISITIONS


Gray Dawes buys CTM


TRAVEL MANAGEMENT COMPANY Gray Dawes has announced the acquisition of Redhill-based CTM for an undisclosed sum. The group says the deal was confirmed on 1 December 2017 and is its fifth acquisition in three years, having previously purchased Travel Management Group and Cambridge Business Travel, Travel Focus Limited, and the Business Travel Partnership. Gray Dawes says all CTM staff will be retained as part of the deal, with operations moving to the group’s central London office. Gray Dawes Travel ranked 21st


in BBT’s 2017 50 Leading TMCs, while CTM was listed 28th.


AIRLINES


US carriers place restrictions on ‘smart bags’


US CARRIERS DELTA AND AMERICAN AIRLINES have announced that from 15 January passengers are prohibited from checking in ‘smart bags’ that have non-removable lithium-ion batteries. Smart bags, made popular by companies such as Bluesmart (pictured) and Modobag, feature integrated technology that allows users to track their luggage, weigh and lock it using a mobile app. They also feature power banks for charging portable devices.


Both airlines said they had decided to ban the checking in of smart bags unless passengers could remove the lithium-ion batteries that power them, over fears that


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damaged power sources could overheat and pose an in-flight fire hazard. Along with its


announcement, Delta said it was introducing a new policy requiring passengers carrying spare lithium-ion batteries to place them in their cabin bags rather than checked luggage. It follows a 2015 ban on hoverboards, which made headlines when battery units around the world spontaneously combusted.


BBT January/February 2018 9


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