Message from Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Liberal Democrat member of the European Parliament for London

This message was sent prior to the No to Domestic Flights Demo at London City Airport last Saturday:

Dear friends,

I'm sorry I can't be with you here in person today to help call for an end to domestic flights in the UK, a cause I strongly support. Domestic flights are unnecessary, completely contrary to our commitments to reduce CO2 emissions, and only worsen London’s air and noise pollution.

The LibDem/Tory coalition government has already of course made a great new start on aviation policy by cancelling Labour's third runway at Heathrow, which was a product of the tired old 'predict and provide' policy so beloved of airlines and airport operators. What a victory that was for those of us who have been campaigning against Heathrow expansion for years. The new government has also said it will refuse new runways at Gatwick and Stansted. Regarding aviation tax, the government has also committed to implementing a per-plane rather than per-passenger levy. The coalition is also pushing ahead with High Speed 2 between London and Birmingham, and have pledged to work towards a truly national high speed rail network in the long-term. There is a lot of urgent work to be done, but at least we are now moving in the right direction.

I believe that in that context the case against expansion at London City is not only just, but has a chance of being listened to. Many thanks for your hard work and persistence in this cause, and for those of you that are going, have a good trip up to Manchester!

Best wishes,

Sarah Ludford

No To Domestic Flights Demo See's Strong Cross Party Support

The Campaign Against Climate Change (CCC) demo 'No to Domestic Flights' got off to a wonderful start at London City Airport yesterday where speakers spoke out against the expansion of City Airport, domestic flights and the impact on residents lives and the environment. 

Speakers present:Murad Qureshi, Greater London Authority, Darren Johnson, Greater London Authority, Phil Thornhill, Co-ordinator of CCC, John Stewart of HACAN, Anne-Marie Griffin of Fight the Flights, Josh from Plane Stupid and Food Not Fuel.  In addition, Baroness Sarah Ludford, MEP for London also sent a letter of support of the demonstration and of Fight the Flights campaign which was read out at the event. 

This was the first time that cross party politicians and campaigners had stood together on London City Airport turf with their message against expansion, against domestic flights. It was a significant day.

Protesters then boarded an open top bus to Euston Station, taking the message of train not  plane for those domestic trips, through London before boarding the train to Manchester to join the Stop the Expansion of Manchester Airport group. 

Further photos and coverage of the event may be seen here and here.

Fight the Flights would like to thank the Campaign Against Climate Change team, and all the speakers for their outstanding contribution and efforts which made for such a successful event.

Tomorrows Speakers at LCY Demo - End Domestic Flights Now!

PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS NO DLR SERVICE BETWEEN WESTFERRY, BECKTON AND WOOLWICH ARSENAL - RAIL REPLACEMENT BUSES WILL BE RUNNING- PLEASE CHECK TFL FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

Schedule for the day :

11.00 am Demonstration outside the main entrance to City Airport, London, begins.

12.00 noon Speeches outside City Airport –including

John Stewart (leader of the succesful anti-Heathrow expansion campaign),

Murad Qureshi (GLA member, Labour) and

Darren Johnson (GLA member, Green Party).

12:15 “Train not plane” brigade bus leave City Airport on open-top bus, bound for Euston.

1.40 pm “Train not plane” brigade take special carriage on the train to Manchester.

3.50 pm “Train not plane” brigade arrives at Manchester Piccadilly station.

4.30 -5.45 pm “Train not plane” brigade join demonstration at Terminal 3, Manchester Airport.

Phil Thornhill from Campaign against Climate Change said “As unprecedented flooding devastates Pakistan, record temperatures stoke raging wildfires around Moscow and torrential downpours cause landslides that kill thousands in China - its time we got serious about the escalating threat from climate change before its too late. And we’re not getting serious about reducing climate-destabilising emissions until we get to grips with the their fastest growing source. Aviation symbolises the high-emission lifestyles of the developed world that are threatening billions, especially in the most vunerable communities, around the world. We can start to get to grips with the growth in aviation by illiminating the shorter journeys that can be made in other, less carbon-intensive, ways. This is the time to show we’re getting serious with aviation, serious with unnecessary high emissions, serious with climate change – serious, in other words, with the greatest threat facing humanity.”

Anne-Marie Griffin, Chair of ‘Fight the Flights’ said: “An end to unnecessary domestic flights for trips which could be taken by train, would have a hugely positive impact on the residents around London City Airport. Not only would they experience less flight noise and pollution from City Airports' domestic flights, but also from those heading to Heathrow. Travellers taking the train instead of the plane could help improve the lives and health of thousands of Londoners.”

Robbie Gillett from the ‘Stop Expansion at Manchester Airport’ coalition said "There are currently around 38 flights per day between Manchester and the London hubs. Airlines such as Flybe who promote these domestic flights are encouraging airport expansion and threatening the stability of the climate in order to line their own pockets. These flights are the most unnecessary of all and should stop immediately."

Demo This Saturday: End Domestic Flights Now!

Start: 04 Sep 2010, 11:00 am 

Where: London to Manchester

FTF MEETS THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Demonstrations in London and Manchester, Saturday 4th September

You can come to the London demonstration - or the one in Manchester - or, for just a fiver, join us in our special carriage on the train (see here) for a full fun day of aviation activism!

Timetable:

11.00 am Demonstration outside City Airport, London. (take the DLR at Bank to get to the ‘London City Airport’ stop on the Woolwich line)

12.15 pm “Train-not-plane” party board the big red (open top double decker) ‘End Domestic Flights’ bus which takes the message through the streets of London to Euston station.
1.40 pm "Train-not-plane" brigade boards the Manchester train at Euston.

3.49 pm “Train-not-plane” party arrives at Manchester Piccadilly station

4.30 - 5.45 pm Demonstration at Manchester Airport at Terminal 3 . More info info[at]stopmanchesterairport.org.uk

6.30 pm - Tea and coffee, followed by a Party for aviation activists : food, drink and live music from ceilidh band "The Fig Band". This will be at Hasty Lane near Manchester airport - in a street threatened by airport expansion - a short bus ride, or 25 minuite walk, from Terminal 3. Accommodation will be organised for those staying overnight.

Join us on the special "Train-not plane" carriage on the 1.40pm train! Take the big red bus from the City Airport demo to Euston station and then join our special “train-not-plane” carriage on the 1.40 train to Manchester. A fiver will get you to Manchester Airport taking our special carriage – first come first served for available seats. To book a ticket click here.

But remember, you need to get back from Manchester! The sooner you book the cheaper the return to London! You can return from Manchester Saturday night or party in Manchester and return Sunday morning. Return to London by train is £11.50 if booked well enough in advance, or around £5.50 on Megabus. The last trains back from Manchester to London on Saturday leave Manchester Piccadilly at 19.37 and 20.35.

Any queries? E-mail enddomesticflights@campaigncc.org

Find out about the local London City Airport anti expansion group “Fight the Flights” at www.fighttheflights.com
Find out about SEMA, the “Stop Expansion at Manchester Airport” group at www.stopmanchesterairport.org.uk

Download a flier to publicise the demo from our leaflets page.

Put this date in your diary now! This will be the time to take the agenda forward on aviation, and insist that at this time of climate emergency we cannot afford to be using high-emission forms of transport where viable alternatives exist. And that aviation will need to bear the burden of emissions reductions along with other sectors.

"End Domestic Flights" is one of the 'Climate Emergency Demands' - see here.

We asked people their thoughts on banning domestic flights and made a video of their responses, you can watch it here.

End Domestic Flights Now!

Campaign against Climate Change www.campaigncc.org

Demonstrations in London and Manchester ,
Saturday 4th September

11.00 am Demonstration outside City Airport , London .
(take the DLR at Bank to get to the ‘ London City Airport ’ stop on the Woolwich line) Support the local London City Airport anti expansion group “Fight the Flights” www.fighttheflights.com

12.30 “Train not plane” party board the big red (open top double decker) ‘end domestic flights’ bus which takes the message through the streets of London to Euston station.

1.40 pm "Train-not-plane" brigade boards the Manchester train at Euston.

3.49 pm “Train not plane” party arrives at Manchester Piccadilly station

4.30 pm Demonstration at Manchester Airport

For more info contact info@stopmanchesterairport.org.uk
Find out about SEMA, the “Stop Expansion at Manchester Airport ” group at www.stopmanchesterairport.org.uk
Evening - Party, party, party for aviation activists at Hasty Lane near Manchester airport - in a street threatened by airport expansion. Accomodation will be organised for those staying overnight.

Join us on the special "train-not plane" carriage on the 1:40 train! Cost is £11.50 
Make it a full fun day of aviation activism! (return from Manchester Saturday night or party in Manchester and return Sunday morning) Book a ticket by clicking here. Cost is £11.50 for a seat on the carriage, first come, first served for available seats. ( Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester airport is £3.30 return Return to London by train is £11.50 if booked well enough in advance, or around £5.50 by Megabus. )

Put this date in your diary now! This will be the time to take the agenda forward on aviation, and insist that at this time of climate emergency we cannot afford to be using high-emission forms of transport where viable alternatives exist. And that aviation will need to bear the burden of emissions reductions along with other sectors.

More info as it becomes available www.campaigncc.org/aviation

If you would like to join Fight the Flights either on the demo and/or on the train to Manchester please do let us know: fighttheflights@yahoo.co.uk