-The Dutch Government is set to allow Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to exceed its 1998 noise quota, rather than close a runway. New calculation procedures are being suggested. Schiphol believes that the fifth runway will solve the problem from 2003.
-The port authority of Antwerp, Belgium says that it is interested in participating in any privatisation of the Flemish regional govern- ment-owned Antwerp Airport. The port authority is also interested in developing the former military airfield at nearby Zoersel into a dedicated air freight airport.
-London Luton Airport has selected a consortium made up of Barclays Capital (65%), UK construction firm Bechtel (10%) and Airport Group International (25%) to carry out its ambitious growth plans. The consortium will operate the airport as a concession as London Luton Operations under a 30-year deal, although the airport will remain under local government control. Initial investment will be £110 million ($180 million) covering building of a new terminal to take capacity from 4 million to 5-6 million passengers a year.
-The Italian Government is this month expected to approve a 400 billion lira ($225 million) investment package to improve the southern airports of Sardinia (Cagliari-Elmas), Puglia (Bari-Palese) and Sicily (Catania-Fontanarossa).
-Arinc and Orincon have teamed to market and install the Ground Safety Tracking and Reporting System (GSTARS) worldwide. GSTARS, which uses inductive loop technology to detect aircraft, is being demonstrated at Long Beach Municipal Airport, California.
Source: Flight International