Archives: March 2009 cargo news
The News stories below are cargo / freight related stories which made the headlines in March 2009 (other archived months are shown at the bottom of the page).
For all the latest Cargo News, click on the link on the left-hand side menu. ukimports.org
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31/03/09 - City port axing 60 jobs at dock
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The owner of Southampton docks is to make 60 workers compulsorily redundant at the city's container port terminal.
Dubai-based firm DP World, the majority shareholder in the site it owns jointly with Associated British Ports, blamed "the economic climate".
Managers are now consulting with the 60 members of staff, who have been told they do not have to report for work.
The union Unite has threatened a ballot on industrial action unless bosses negotiate over the jobs. ukimports.org
26/03/09 - Aircraft makes emergency landing
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A passenger aircraft has had to make an emergency landing at Southampton Airport.
Flybe flight BE1614 was travelling from Chambery, France, when it began to have technical problems.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said the aircraft was experiencing hydraulic problems with its nose steering.
All emergency services were put on standby but the plane later landed safely and was being towed off the runway, police said.
"Flybe flight BE1614 travelling from Chambery experienced technical problems this afternoon," a Southampton Airport spokesperson said.
"The emergency services attended the airport as a matter of precaution, but were not required. ukimports.org
24/03/09 - Call to bring back Heathrow route
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A campaign calling for flights between Durham Tees Valley Airport and Heathrow to be brought back is to be taken directly to the aviation minister.
Sedgefield Labour MP Phil Wilson is to meet Jim Fitzpatrick to outline the damage he claims losing the service is doing to the North East's economy.
Last month airline BMI revealed it was axing its London flights from the airport amid tough trading conditions. ukimports.org
24/03/09 - Airlines 'to make bigger losses'
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The International Air Transport Association says airlines will make losses of $4.7bn (£3.2bn) in 2009, 88% more than the body's initial forecast.
In December, Iata said the global air transport industry would make a loss of $2.5bn this year.
Iata said passenger demand had deteriorated more than expected and demand for air cargo was even weaker.
However, the body said that the industry's prospects might begin to improve by the end of the year.
The international airline industry lost $8.5bn last year, more than its initial estimate of $5bn, as the final three months of 2008 saw a sharp fall in first-class and business-class passengers and cargo traffic.
The new projection comes as passenger traffic is expected to slide by 5.7% over the year. ukimports.org
22/03/09 - 'Suspicious device' on aircraft
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Police are investigating a suspicious device on board an Emirates plane at Gatwick Airport.
The aircraft, which arrived at the West Sussex airport from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, was safely landed and is currently in a holding area.
Sussex Police said all passengers and crew were evacuated and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit was carrying out "extensive searches".
The airport was temporarily closed but has since reopened.
Police, who were called just before 0650 GMT, said they understood some flights may be slightly delayed but there would be no major disruptions. ukimports.org
20/03/09 - Recession hits rail freight firm
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A rail freight container business which operated between Kent and Yorkshire has been axed because of the recession.
Rail firm Jarvis said the container services division of Fastline Freight would close with immediate effect and blamed poor demand for the decision.
The operation was launched in 2006 and operated between the Isle of Grain in Kent, Doncaster in South Yorkshire and Birch Coppice, Birmingham. ukimports.org
19/03/09 - BAA could challenge airport sale
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)BAA has said it may appeal against the decision by the Competition Commission ordering it to sell Gatwick and Stansted airports.
In its final report of a two-year inquiry, the commission told BAA that it must also sell either Edinburgh or Glasgow airport.
The commission looked into BAA's dominance over airports in Scotland and the south-east of England.
BAA responded to the findings by saying the commission's analysis was "flawed". ukimports.org
18/03/09 - Regulator to order airports sale
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The Competition Commission is expected to confirm the break-up of airports operator BAA by ordering the sale of Stansted airport as well as Gatwick.
In the final report of its two-year investigation to be published later, it will also order the sale of one of BAA's three Scottish airports.
It has looked into BAA's dominance over airports in Scotland and the south-east of England; BAA owns a total of seven.
The regulator has already begun to vet potential bidders for Gatwick. ukimports.org
18/03/09 - Two held over Heathrow 'trespass'
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Two people have been arrested after attempting to gain "unlawful access" to the airfield at Heathrow airport.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the incident at the west London airport began at about 1000 GMT.
Airport operator BAA said the pair had been "quickly apprehended and arrested and are now in police custody".
Flights from the airport's southern runway were suspended for 14 minutes but there was no substantial impact to the airport's operation, it said.
It is believed the arrested pair were part of the Fathers 4 Justice campaign group. ukimports.org
18/03/09 - Channel ferry firm bids for rival
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Cross-Channel ferry operator SeaFrance could be taken over by Brittany Ferries through a new holding company after negotiations with LD Lines broke down.
If successful, it would acquire four or five of SeaFrance's vessels, which would continue in service sailing to Calais from the Kent port of Dover.
SeaFrance recently announced it could be axing up to 650 French jobs.
Brittany Ferries already operates five routes to France from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth and two to Spain.
It employs 2,500 staff, including 320 UK-based employees. ukimports.org
17/03/09 - Rail firms facing strike action
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Workers at three rail companies have voted in favour of industrial action over separate disputes, it has emerged.
The Rail Maritime and Transport Union said members at First Capital Connect and National Express East Anglia voted in favour of a strike over job cuts.
London Overground union members also backed strike action over an alleged breakdown in industrial relations. ukimports.org
12/03/09 - BA dashes airport's freight plans
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Negotiations to bring British Airways World Cargo to Kent International Airport have failed.
It had been hoped the move would bring more freight flights to Manston but it is to stay at Stansted, officials said.
Chief executive, Matt Clarke, said he was disappointed but said there had been interest from other carriers.
"We are committed to attracting further freight operators... and ensuring the return of scheduled passenger services to a range of destinations," he said. ukimports.org
11/03/09 - UK budget flights to Asia begin
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A new low cost airline service between UK and Asia has begun operating with a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Stansted Airport.
The service operator is Malaysia-based carrier AirAsia X, an associate airline of AirAsia. ukimports.org
09/03/09 - Airports 'to focus on passengers'
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Airports will have to focus more on consumers and the environmental impact of their operations, under proposed reforms to their regulatory system.
Secretary of State for Transport Geoff Hoon has suggested giving the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) a primary duty towards passengers.
Passenger Focus will be the advocate for air passengers' interests - it currently does so for bus and rail.
The 13 biggest airports will report annually on their environmental impact.
Only those 13, which are the ones with more than 5 million passengers per year, will have to have licenses in the future, leaving the 42 smaller airports free of economic regulation. ukimports.org
06/03/09 - Two men deny importing £1m drugs
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Two men have appeared in court to deny attempting to smuggle amphetamine with an estimated street value of £1m into the country.
Peter Jones, 29, of Acuba Road, Liverpool, and Marlon Jones, 36, of Liscard Road, Liverpool, were arrested at Dover, Kent, last Wednesday.
Officers from the UK Border Agency searched their van after it arrived at the port on a ferry from Calais. ukimports.org
02/03/09 - Passenger jet's emergency landing
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A charter flight from Manchester airport to Egypt was forced to make an emergency landing in Greece.
The Jet2 Boeing 757 landed safely in Athens after the aircraft's captain noticed a potential fault with air pressure in the cabin on Monday. ukimports.org
02/03/09 - Airport runway inquiry is delayed
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A public inquiry into a second runway at Stansted Airport has been delayed, it has been announced.
Communities and Local Government minister Hazel Blears said it should be deferred until a report on the proposed sale of the airport.
The inquiry was due to start on 15 April but a new date is expected to be announced next month. ukimports.org
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