Latest news with #airportexpansion
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Federal lawsuit could delay McKinney airport expansion indefinitely
A federal lawsuit has been filed to stop the expansion of the McKinney National Airport over environmental concerns. The North Texas Conservation Association is challenging the environmental study conducted by the City of McKinney related to the airport expansion, which promises to attract commercial passenger service. "We believe the environmental assessment done on the McKinney airport expansion is seriously flawed," NTCA's President, Dr. Paul Chabot, said. "It fails to fully and adequately consider environmental impacts in the vicinity of the airport ... The people of North Texas deserve better." The lawsuit claims that the city and its leaders failed to meet federal environmental policies and the impact on the area surrounding the airport, including the Heard Museum and residential neighborhoods in McKinney and Fairview. "The McKinney City Council seems to have been more interested in meeting the timeline set by some unnamed commercial airlines than listening to voters," said NTCA's General Counsel, Steven E. Ross. McKinney city leaders approved the airport expansion in 2024 The McKinney City Council in December paved the way for the expansion of terminals and infrastructure needed to support airlines to compete with Love Field and DFW Airport. "It is a huge thing," McKinney Mayor George Fuller said previously. "Our airport has been a tremendously successful asset, not just for this community, but for the region. And we are, in essence, completely built out on the west side of the airport. So the only way to continue taking advantage of the asset that we have is to develop the east side." The zoning changes would allow the construction of an approximate 30,000-square-foot passenger terminal as well as a 1,500-space parking garage and room for large jet fuel tanks. The changes would also allow for a water and sewage system on the east side of the airport, which is undeveloped. This expansion plan would give the city of McKinney a huge regional boost and runway expansion work is already underway. The lawsuit could delay the launch of passenger service indefinitely. The North Texas Conservation Association has scheduled town hall meetings in Fairview on June 11 and in McKinney on June 19. CBS News Texas has reached out to the City of McKinney for comment and is waiting to hear back.
Irish Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Aviation industry must do its fair share for climate action
Sir, – It is vital that the human costs of unprecedented air traffic levels are prioritised in discussions about Irish airport expansion. The claim that local residents are 'possibly the last great stakeholder in what has become an increasingly frenetic policy area', is misinformed and short-sighted (' Everybody wants to get on board the State's aviation policy ', Cantillon, Business, May 13th). Children's safety, health and economic prospects unequivocally depend on urgent and economy-wide cuts to fossil fuel use. The record-breaking levels of flight traffic in Ireland also means record-breaking levels of aviation fossil fuel use. In 2023 Ireland used 1.36 billion litres of aviation fossil fuel and this will increase massively if national airport expansion takes place. Experts advise there is no viable or sustainable alternative to jet kerosene, and there is none for the foreseeable future. In recent days we learnt that 100 million of the world's five year olds (83 per cent) face deadly and unprecedented heat in their lives if climate action is not strengthened. Yet children continue to be ignored as key stakeholders in decisions that will have irreversible impacts on their lives – such as massive and polluting airport expansion. The reason our children are on track for deadly heat, among many other life-threatening hazards, is inadequate action to cut the fossil fuel pollution endangering their futures. READ MORE The aviation industry must do its fair share for climate action and protect children from the horrendous and avoidable harms they are facing. The State must regulate it accordingly via a science-based aviation policy. It is only children who have the fundamental right to growth, development and survival, not any industry, and the State must fulfil its obligations to them. – Yours, etc, LOUISE O'LEARY, Terenure, Dublin 6W.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Why the world's busiest airport is shutting
The world's busiest international airport, which welcomes over 60 million passengers a year, is set to close as it undergoes a £28 billion ($37 billion) expansion to increase its capacity to 260 million passengers annually. Dubai International Airport, known as DXB, is a major travel hub and a key destination for long-haul travel for millions of Brits who flock to the Gulf city each year. But its boss, Paul Griffiths, announced all services will eventually be moved in the coming decades to the newer Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Located 22 miles outside of the city and 38 miles from DXB, Al Maktoum International Airport opened its doors in 2010, though a new DWC terminal is expected to open in 2032 and full expansion will continue into the 2050s. According to Griffiths, Dubai International Airport, which first opened in 1960, is nearing the end of its 'useful operating role.' Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market conference last week, he said: 'There is little sense in operating two major hubs with such close proximity to one another. 'We will move every single service to DWC. By then, every single asset at DXB will be close to the end of its useful operating role, so the economics of keeping DXB open will not be possible unless we invest a huge amount of money.' DXB is currently the world's second busiest airport, having handled a record 92.3 million passengers in 2024, but it holds the top spot as the world's busiest for international passengers, as reported by Aviation Week. DWC, on the other hand, has been in limited use for the last 15 years, initially utilized for cargo and later for some passengers services, including a handful of EasyJet flights. But all of that is expected to change, as Al Maktoum is expected to be five times the size of DXB, and a capacity to handle 260 million passengers a year after completion. The new airport will have five parallel runways and up to 400 aircraft gates, marking its status as the largest airport project in the world. Currently, it's estimated as much as 6.2 million international travellers arrive in Dubai every single day, which equates to around 17,000 British visitors, as reported by The Standard . Over the years, the surge in footfall from international tourists has imposed a new strain on the capacity of DXB, which is sandwiched between two major highways and residential neighborhoods. Last April, UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced that aviation operations would move to the city's second airfield. In the meantime, DXB remains the emirate's main aviation hub, with both British Airways and Emirates expected to continue operating popular flight paths to DXB from the UK. Although airport's ultimate closure date is yet to be confirmed, it is reported DXB will be likely redeveloped into a space for real estate in years to come. It comes as the world's best airport has been crowned in a new ranking, with the UK failing to get a spot in the top 20. Singapore Changi Airport topped the list for a 'record-breaking' 13th time at the 2025 Skytrax World Airport Awards. The awards are the world's largest customer airport satisfaction survey and assess customer service and facilities across 565 airports. Changi Airport has a huge number of attractions for travelers including a butterfly garden, a rooftop pool and a hedge maze. Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Visit our profile page and hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Why the world's busiest airport with over 92million passengers is shutting
The world's busiest international airport, which welcomes over 60 million passengers a year, is set to close as it undergoes a £28 billion expansion to increase its capacity to 260 million passengers annually. Dubai International Airport, known as DXB, is a major travel hub and a key destination for long-haul travel for millions of Brits who flock to the Gulf city each year. But its boss, Paul Griffiths, announced all services will eventually be moved in the coming decades to the newer Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Located 22 miles outside of the city and 38 miles from DXB, Al Maktoum International Airport opened its doors in 2010, though a new DWC terminal is expected to open in 2032 and full expansion will continue into the 2050s. According to Griffiths, Dubai International Airport, which first opened in 1960, is nearing the end of its 'useful operating role.' Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market conference last week, he said: 'There is little sense in operating two major hubs with such close proximity to one another. 'We will move every single service to DWC. By then, every single asset at DXB will be close to the end of its useful operating role, so the economics of keeping DXB open will not be possible unless we invest a huge amount of money.' DXB is currently the world's second busiest airport, having handled a record 92.3 million passengers in 2024, but it holds the top spot as the world's busiest for international passengers, as reported by Aviation Week. DWC, on the other hand, has been in limited use for the last 15 years, initially utilised for cargo and later for some passengers services, including a handful of EasyJet flights. But all of that is expected to change, as Al Maktoum is expected to be five times the size of DXB, and a capacity to handle 260 million passengers a year after completion. The new airport will have five parallel runways and up to 400 aircraft gates, marking its status as the largest airport project in the world. Currently, it's estimated as much as 6.2 million international travellers arrive in Dubai every single day, which equates to around 17,000 British visitors, as reported by The Standard. Over the years, the surge in footfall from international tourists has imposed a new strain on the capacity of DXB, which is sandwiched between two major highways and residential neighbourhoods. Last April, UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced that aviation operations would move to the city's second airfield. In the meantime, DXB remains the emirate's main aviation hub, with both British Airways and Emirates expected to continue operating popular flight paths to DXB from the UK. Although airport's ultimate closure date is yet to be confirmed, it is reported DXB will be likely redeveloped into a space for real estate in years to come. The surge in footfall from international tourists has imposed a new strain on the capacity of DXB, which is sandwiched between two major highways and residential neighbourhoods It comes as the world's best airport has been crowned in a new ranking, with the UK failing to get a spot in the top 20. Singapore Changi Airport topped the list for a 'record-breaking' 13th time at the 2025 Skytrax World Airport Awards. The awards are the world's largest customer airport satisfaction survey and assess customer service and facilities across 565 airports. Changi Airport has a huge number of attractions for travellers including a butterfly garden, a rooftop pool and a hedge maze.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Heathrow warned it cannot afford a third runway
Heathrow has been warned that it cannot afford a third runway without loading the business with billions of pounds more debt. In a damning new report, the ratings agency S&P Global said the planned expansion will potentially imperil the airport by significantly increasing its borrowings, which are are already as high as nearly £20bn. As well as increasing debts, S&P said the project would also lead to higher passenger charges at Heathrow, which are already among the highest in Europe. According to S&P, this 'could lead to a weakening of Heathrow's competitive position relative to other European hubs' – raising fresh concerns over the airport's status as a global transport hub. Heathrow has insisted that the planned expansion will not need any financial support from the taxpayer, although S&P claims it will not be able to afford a third runway without a significant cash injection from its shareholders. The airport's backers are largely made up of overseas investors, led by French private equity giant Ardian, the Qatar Investment Authority and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. S&P said: 'Notwithstanding Heathrow's strong regulatory environment and superior competitive position, we believe that our issue ratings on Heathrow's debt have limited headroom for significant additional leverage. 'In our view, the new runway would be difficult to finance without strong equity backing.' Concerns over how Heathrow will pay for a third runway have emerged just months after Chancellor Rachel Reeves backed the £20bn project, as she stepped up efforts to boost economic growth. Heathrow is set to submit plans for the expansion later this year, with chief executive Thomas Woldbye claiming that the third runway could be in use by 2035. Plans could see the airport's capacity increase from 80m passengers a year to 140m in an expansion costing between £20bn and £25bn, according to S&P. Mr Woldbye has said that a third runway would lead to lower air fares for passengers because it would remove flight capacity limits that are responsible for inflating prices. Meanwhile, the airport's latest annual reports show that Heathrow has just over £19bn worth of debt across the business, which led to more than £600m in finance costs last year alone. However, these did not prevent the airport from posting profits of £917m from total revenues of £3.6bn. A Heathrow spokesman said: 'Expanding Heathrow will be entirely privately funded, and as such must be financeable. Policy changes, including adjustments to the regulatory regime for a third runway, will be key to delivering the project successfully.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
