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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