Richard's blog

At 00:01 Saturday morning, the BAA injunction passed away in its sleep.

Plane Stupid would like to say just one thing:

Thanks for the free publicity!

Contrary to claims from industry pundits, the majority of people didn't fly abroad last year.

The Department for Transport's National Travel Survey, which usually covers surface travel, included a new question on international flights. 21% of people had taken one (return) flight abroad, and 9% had made three or more flights.

Great news for playground loner BAA! After hemorrhaging staff like it's going out of style, they finally found one fool crazy enough to work for them.

Step forward Sir Nigel Rudd, a 'serial non-executive director' whose illustrious career includes helping arms dealers BAE systems flog their weapons to anyone who'll take them.

Well at least he'll be used to the occasional protest...

As the Camp for Climate Action continues its clear-up, BAA announces that Duncan Bonfield, director of communications, and Mark Mann, head of media relations, have quit the organisation, in a row with Ferrovial, their Spanish parent company.

Nothing to do with the wave of negative PR following the most useless injunction in history and a 24 hour seige of its world HQ, of course.

Here at Plane Stupid, we think using the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 - a law designed to keep women safe from stalkers - to protect climate criminals is a bit pants.

So we got some printed up.

Local residents and environmental activists are used to taking BAA's claims with a pinch of salt. After all, they've seen the company make numerous claims about just how big it wants Heathrow Airport to grow - only to immediately change their mind and demand further expansion.

While the T5 consultation was underway, Mike Roberts, Managing Director of Heathrow Airport Ltd (owned by BAA) sent a letter to local residents claiming that T5 was to be the last assault on their homes and communities. "I'd like to reassure you", he stated, "that [the Airport] will NOT require another runway or an increase in night flights".

The House of Lords debated the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and aviation yesterday.

Lord Woolmer, the poor fool, who'd clearly tumbled from a rather boozy Members' Club lunch to introduce the Committee Report manages some tremendous internal inconsistencies. Compare, for instance:

"There is no case for demonising aviation and aviation emissions; they are not a current threat to tackling climate change."

with his earlier statement:

"If aviation emissions continue to grow by 3 per cent a year for 40 years, they will triple. If the growth is 4 per cent a year, they will increase by 450 per cent." It will be a "very significant [problem] by 2050."

Fed up with only getting into the broadsheets by buying an advert or two, Micheal O'Lairy has re-invented himself as the people's champion, saving us all from 'Greedy Gordon' and his evil tax grabbing ways (surely 'returning APD to its 1999/2000 budgetary level' - Ed.).

Funny how a company which got rich by demmanding bungs from local councils to fly into their airports can accuse anyone else of highway robbery isn't it? But, as the Independent reports, O'Dearie goes further, taking on lastminute.com and other travel agents in a battle over overcharging for flights.