ON THE SOAPBOX: Unite… and aviation will fly says Darren Caplan

Darren Caplan has been Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association since January 2011.  Previously, he spent 14 years working in communications, public affairs and politics across a number of sectors, including infrastructure, planning and technology. 

He has worked for NTL, the Conservative Party, and multi-client lobbying/PR agencies in London; and stood (unsuccessfully!) as a parliamentary candidate against Diane Abbott in the 2010 general election.

Aviation is a fantastic industry.  Airplanes and airports are inspiring in what they do and what they deliver.  And what is more beautiful than an aeroplane rolling down a runway and then taking to the sky?  Few industries represent the ability and achievement of mankind better than aviation.  Yet few industries are so taken for granted.

Despite the fact that the UK is so good at this aviation thing – pioneers in air travel, with an incredibly strong pedigree in aerospace – and despite the fact that the most amazing, talented, people work in the industry, full of character and passion – we face a real battle against belligerent anti-aviation groups and complacent public policy-makers.

Some anti-aviation groups are local, campaigning against airport development despite the fact they often regularly use those very same airports.  Some are national, viscerally against flying for any number of reasons.  Despite being small in terms of operatives but loud in voice, they would rather see an aviation sector retreating in principle, than seek solutions to relatively short term challenges.  These challenges mainly revolve around environmental impacts and noise, and I call them short term because the current generation of geniuses putting people up in to the skies are already developing solutions to them, building upon fantastic advances already delivered.

We also have public policy-makers who give undeserved weight to anti-aviation groups and who are subsequently unwittingly hindering this wonderful industry of ours.  I say unwittingly because we know they want to create thousands more aerospace jobs, that they want the UK to become a Top 5 tourist destination, and that they want the country to be “Open for business” – the charge on all this has been led by the Prime Minister himself!  In which case you have to wonder why the Government has levied the highest Air Passenger Duty (APD) taxes in the world, has allowed a three-year aviation policy black hole, and is still considering unilateral carbon budgeting or targets when the UK has just  joined a continental (European) Emissions Trading Scheme.

Despite all this, the Airport Operators Association and many others in aviation are optimistic about the future.  But to deliver on that optimism everyone in the industry needs to unite, otherwise we make it easy for those who wish to do our industry down.  So whether campaigning for fairer, lower APD via A Fair Tax on Flying (www.facebook.com/afairtaxonflying), or promoting environmental and noise initiatives such as Sustainable Aviation (www.sustainableaviation.org.uk), now is not the time to just simply fight your corner. Rather – in this final full year before the Sustainable Framework for UK Aviation is devised and adopted – now is the time to stand together and fight to establish aviation as an essential help, and not a hindrance, to the future success of UK plc.

This is the message that Ed Anderson, AOA Chairman, will deliver to tonight’s AOA Annual Dinner, at which Transport Secretary Justine Greening will be in attendance.  This is the message policy-makers will receive at the Sustainable Aviation Road-Map launch in the House of Commons tomorrow, when we demonstrate aviation really can deliver both growth and environmental impact curbs.  And this is the message that the Chancellor will be hearing loud and clear from the Fair Tax on Flying coalition later this month ahead of the Treasury’s implementation of a punitive double inflation APD rise for 2012/13 and another inflation tax-increasing Budget for the year after that.

We are on the right side of these aviation debates.  Anti-aviation opponents do not represent the great majority of people in this country who fly and/or benefit from the advantages a connected air network brings.  Policy-makers are not necessarily set in their ways, as evidenced by the Treasury freezing APD last year (following energetic, united, campaigning) in last March’s Budget, and its inclusion of aviation in the National Infrastructure Plan in November, following many months when the Government would only talk of roads, rail and ships as key national infrastructure.

As I sit under the flightpath where I live, watching planes descending gracefully from the clouds to come into land (yes, I really do do this!), wondering where their cargo of holidaymakers, business people, loved-ones on family trips and high value belly-hold freight have journeyed from, it seems to me that aviation’s best days can still be ahead.  Anti-aviation campaigners and complacent governments will come and go, but flying is here to stay.  However, we must join forces as an industry and fight the good fight in this crucial lobbying year if both the aviation industry and the country it serves are to flourish in these tough economic times.  I look forward to joining you on the campaign trail, as we unite to ensure aviation can progress from merely taxiing to take-off in the years ahead.

Darren Caplan

www.aoa.org.uk

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Air Astana takes the Boeing 767/787 route

Boeing and Air Astana have announced an order for four 767-300ERs and three 787-8s.  The airline, jointly owned by the Government of Kazakhstan and BAe Systems, was established in 2002 and currently operates a fleet of 26 aircraft including Fokker 50, Embraer 190, Airbus A320 series, and both the Boeing 757 and 767

"Our decision to order the Boeing airplanes is part of Air Astana's long-term growth strategy to expand and modernize our fleet with newer, more fuel-efficient airplanes to serve domestic, regional and international routes," said Peter Foster, President, Air Astana.  "In addition, we want to offer an enhanced travel experience for our customers which we shall be able to do on these airplanes."

On the London route Air Astana is twice weekly for the eight hour service.  If BA take over bmi, who offer the same frequency, it will be interesting to see their future plans. 

Boeing’s order book for the 767 stands at around 1,300 including 178 of the tanker version for the US military.  Whilst the Air Astana order will be amongst the last for the aircraft the much later 777 continues to sell with 1,361 commitments, the 1000th model rolled out last week. www.boeing.com/commercial

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Aviation Consultation by the UK Government

A statement from the Department for Transport would seem to indicate an internal  review of the Government’s air transport policy and clearly an acknowledgement of its importance to the UK economic performance.  Asked by AERBT regarding Westminster rumours that the aviation consultative document due to be published towards the end of March would be split into two a spokesman said:

"As the Chancellor made clear in his Autumn Statement, we will explore all the options for maintaining the UK's aviation hub status with the exception of a third runway at Heathrow.  The Government will consult on an overarching sustainable framework for UK aviation this spring and alongside this we will publish a call for evidence on maintaining effective UK hub airport connectivity.”

Within the airline industry the call seems to be that what is urgently wanted is a firm airport policy, one that all can get behind.  Clearly there will be contradictory opinions but unless a way ahead is focussed upon Britain will lose out in the chase for international airline business and the immense benefits it brings. www.dft.gov.uk

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CNN Business Traveller returns

Thursday 15 March sees the return of CNN Business Traveller hosted by the indefatigable Richard Quest.

Each month, Quest will present the show from hotels, airports and cities around the world, bringing his detailed knowledge of surviving out of a suitcase on the world’s corporate highways and byways.  Joining him will be resident business travel news correspondent Ayesha Durgahee.

“Since CNN Business Traveller has been away, tough economic times have continued, but so has business travel.  I’m delighted that once again, CNN is able to inspire viewers to profit from their travels and broaden their horizons, both in terms of personal enjoyment and business opportunities.  This is a fascinating industry – we look forward to the year ahead on the road,” said Matt Percival, Executive Editor, CNN International.

In the first programme, airing 07:30 GMT Thursday 15 March, Quest is in Singapore to celebrate business travel in a region where growth is rife and trends are set.  With the economic winds blowing eastwards, Changi Airport is a thriving hub battling for supremacy among Asia’s high-tech airports; it was also the location of the first ever episode of ‘CNN Business Traveller’ so it is a fitting place for the programme to return to in 2012. www.cnn.com/businesstraveller  (goes live on Wednesday, 7 March).

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Frankfurt Airport strike

Readers should take care if passing through Frankfurt Airport during the next period.  Due to industrial action by ground staff last week just over 1,000 flights have been cancelled since Thursday.  The vast majority of these were Lufthansa, which has mostly scrapped European services to give priority to intercontinental passengers.

The GdF trade union said in a statement that the strike would start at 20:00 GMT Sunday 26 February until 04:00 GMT on Thursday 1 March.

Frankfurt Airport is Europe's third-busiest after Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle, with about 1,300 flight movements per day, more than half of them by Lufthansa.

A spokesman for Lufthansa said that, like with the previous walkouts, long haul flights would be given priority and a list of Monday's flight cancellations is now available on its website.  Lufthansa was the worst hit by the strikes that started on 16 February and initially ran until 22 February.

Frankfurt Airport has been using former ground crew to replace striking workers, with the number of flight cancellations dropping each day as staff became used to the role again. www.lufthansa.com

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London Mayoral candidate calls for third Heathrow runway

Siobhan Benita, who is standing as an Independent candidate in the forthcoming election for London Mayor, is today calling for the building of a third runway at Heathrow to be put back on the agenda and given the go-ahead by the Government.  Incumbent Boris Johnson says an airport in the Thames Estuary could be the answer whilst main rival Ken Livingstone does not seem to have a policy.

Ms Benita said: “London and its population would be best served with another runway at Heathrow.  It will not only bring new jobs to the west of the city, but also be built more quickly than the fantasy project already proposed by the party political mayor.  We are stuck with the location of Heathrow whether we like it or not – now is the time to invest in it and bring more connections and greater prosperity to London as result.”

Heathrow Airport is unable to grow as the existing two runways are fully utilised and the airport is close to capacity.

“The environmental concerns remain and, as Mayor of London, I would work with BAA on ensuring the runway is situated in the best position to cause the least noise and pollution to surrounding communities.” www.siobhanformayor.com

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OAG airport review

Based upon the latest analysis of scheduled airline capacity data from airline data specialists OAG, total scheduled airline capacity is anticipated to increase by 3% in March 2012.  The increase in overall capacity however is not matched by a similar increase in frequency, indeed total frequencies have increased by only 2% over March last year. 

OAG says that although the trend towards increases in capacity and frequency is encouraging, from a regional perspective the picture is somewhat mixed and significant variations exist.  The Middle East is the region which commands the highest level of increase in capacity and frequency where OAG notes a 9% increase in frequency and an increase of 10% in capacity.

Capacity within North America sees a decline of 1% suggesting the continuation of difficult trading conditions as a consequence of the global economic downturn.  Frequencies within North America have also declined by 3% an overall contraction of the market albeit the majority arguably being attributable to changes in the schedules of American Airlines as the carrier enters Chapter 11.

For March Beijing Airport anticipates an increase in capacity of 6%. www.oag.com

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ON TOUR: Stuck at Heathrow – or thinking of a weekend break

Let’s face it, if you are stuck at Heathrow for some reason for 24/48 hours nearby there is the world’s greatest selection of ‘what to do’.  You can go into London or take advantage of some of the most absorbing countryside anywhere in the world.  The choice is simply enormous.

Here is a suggestion.  It is somewhat Victorian regarding venues, but as you will learn some of our forebears lived very well.

Make for Aylesbury less than one hour away by road.  You can gamble that the M25 is clear and onto the A41M or take the pretty and much shorter cross country route via Great Missenden and Amersham.

Your base for one or two nights is Hartwell House on the Oxford Road just outside the town.  It is owned by the National Trust and was once the residency of Louis XVIII, never crowned as King of France, who lived there with his Court for five years. 

Situated in 90 acres of landscaped parkland, Hartwell House offers a splendid country house setting.  It provides for a long (or short) walk, country pursuits, and a fine spa with an exquisite swimming pool that opens out onto a private veranda.  For an ‘away from it all’ company conference, within easy access of London and Heathrow, it is ideal.

The impressive Grade I listed house, which has both Jacobean and Georgian facades, contains a host of most beautiful rooms with rococo ceilings, antique furniture and paintings, yet with every imaginable contemporary comfort.  The bedrooms follow the same style, but internet is provided too.  Dine is style in the restaurant or take tea in one of the large and historic public rooms with friends.  In a classic style is the Hartwell House spa with a first class gym, the indoor pool and small café.  The grounds are extensive, laid out by Capability Brown, one of Britain’s finest ever landscape artists.

Hartwell House is central for two fascinating yet completely different late Victorian properties.  Both the owners were very powerful men whose backgrounds were not that far apart, but clearly had completely different views on what a home should be.

Waddesdon Manor

The residence of Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild (1839-1898), Waddesdon Manor is one of the great country houses of England.  It was built by the Baron in the Neo-Renaissance style of a French château between 1874 and 1889.  In 1957 James de Rothschild bequeathed the house and its contents to the National Trust.  Today it is as immaculate as ever, a living tribute to the family (who still take a great interest) and the Trust who run it on a day to day basis.

In its time Waddesdon was one of the fashionable social centres of the country famed for its entertainment and art collection.

The Waddesdon Collection is astonishing and comes from all over Europe.  The Musical Automaton actually works and is priceless.  As you explore the three floors of the main house open to the public one begins to appreciate that the mega rich of today certainly had their contemporaries in an earlier era.  One extravagant piece of furniture after another.  Paintings by the great Dutch artists and also modern works.  The collection does not stand still. 

Waddesdon Manor can claim to be one of the first buildings of any size to have electricity.  In 1890 Queen Victoria was most impressed by the invention she had not seen before.  She was reported to have spent ten minutes switching a newly electrified 18th century chandelier on and off.

You really need a whole day to get around the park, aviary and stables.  A courtesy passenger tractor ride is available and the eating arrangements range from the Manor Restaurant in the Old Kitchen and Servants' Hall, to the very pleasant Stables Café.  There is a continuous programme of events and free guided tours of the house for visitors.

Cut into the side of a hill is the amazing Woodland playground.  It winds through the trees making use of the natural environment to create a fun and magical area to play.  Rope swings, see saws, bird's nest swing and contour slide let children run and climb, swing and slide.  Different areas are set out for varying ages, suitable up to 14 years. 

Hughenden

Hughenden Manor, just outside High Wycombe, is something else.  As the home of a British Prime Minister (Benjamin Disraeli) it can be compared to Chartwell in Kent, Churchill’s residence.  Its connection with Waddesdon is interesting.  Queen Victoria visited each of the Buckinghamshire residences.  She seems to have been amused with both.  It is again owned by the National Trust, like Waddesdon bequeathed through a family trust.  Neither Rothschild nor Disraeli had children.  Like its contemporary 20 miles to the north west the house and grounds are kept immaculate.

Born in 1804 Disraeli died in 1881.  He was Prime Minster for two periods as leader of the Conservative Party.  Charismatic, he was well known as a literary and social figure famous for charming his Queen.  As a writer his best known novel is Sybil which traces the plight of the working classes of England.

Whilst Hughenden as a 19th century country house is interesting it cannot be compared with size and grandeur to Waddesdon Manor.  There is a lovely formal garden, some pleasant walks and both Disraeli and his wife Mary Anne (who predeceased him) are buried in the nearby St Michaels and All Angels Church. 

The present house was built towards the end of the 18th century and was of a stuccoed and of unassuming design.  In 1848 the Disraelis purchased the property but it was not until 1862 that they had it remodelled by the architect Edward Buckton Lamb.  Today it is set out in much the same style as it would have been in the later 19th century with Disraeli’s study intact. 

There is further connection with Waddesdon Manor.  It was to another Rothschild, Baron David, that Disraeli turned to in 1874 for a short-term loan to purchase 44% of the Suez Canal.  Britain’s route to its Eastern Empire was secure.

During the WWII, Hughenden Manor was used as a secret intelligence base code-named "Hillside".  The UK Air Ministry staff at the manor analysed aerial photography of Germany and created maps for bombing missions, including the famous "Dambusters" raid.  There is a small museum in the basement of the house.

http://www.hartwell-house.com www.waddesdon.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden

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