SKYLORDS admitted today that the number of flights from Stansted has increased steadily so far this year - with observers saying many of them are coming over Suffolk.
SKYLORDS admitted today that the number of flights from Stansted has increased steadily so far this year - with observers saying many of them are coming over Suffolk.
BAA said 2.4million passengers flew from Stansted in July, up 2.2per cent on the same month last year.
So far this year more than 13.7m people have flown from the Essex airport. Since August last year, 23.8m have used it - an increase of 2.5pc. BAA said the number of flights had also increased.
In July there were 17,905 planes landing and taking off, a 3.7pc increase on July last year, around 600 extra plane movements, or 20 extra a day. In the past 12 months the number has risen by 3.5pc.
A BAA spokesman said: “Of the individual airports, Gatwick grew 1.8pc, while Stansted gained 2.2pc. Heathrow's traffic was down 1.7pc and Southampton dipped 0.6pc. In Scotland, Aberdeen and Edinburgh saw respective gains of 10.6pc and 6.3pc. Glasgow fell by 6.4pc.”
The Evening Star has launched a campaign against further expansion of the airport because of the effects of a further increase in flights over the county on the quality of life of people in Suffolk.
We are calling for a full review of pollution being caused by the jets - both the impact on ozone layer and on the environment at ground level - and of the increasing noise being caused by the aircraft 24/7.
Ryanair has announced it will cut its services from Stansted this winter by 20pc, reducing flights to some destinations and temporarily cancelling others.
The Irish-based company said it would be making the move to pull out services that would otherwise be loss-making.
It will ground seven of its 40 aircraft based at Stansted.
The company's chief executive Michael O'Leary has been critical of the doubling of both airport charges at Stansted and the doubling of air passenger duty in the UK.
Do you think there are too many planes flying over Suffolk? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk
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