The Netherlands Government has decided that the construction of an international airport on an offshore island to serve Amsterdam is not feasible. It will instead allow Schiphol Airport to be expanded. Aircraft movements will increase from 420,000 to 600,000 in 10 years, while a sixth runway will be constructed by 2010. Bombardier Aerospace is to go ahead with the £21 million ($34 million) first-phase development of Belfast City Airport following approval of its planning application. The project will be completed by the end of this year. The first stage includes a two-storey terminal, new car parks, a new apron for 10 aircraft and new taxi-ways. Flight International's sister on-line news service Air Transport Intelligence reports that construction of a A$190 million ($125 million) new terminal at Adelaide Airport in Australia is expected to begin shortly in a major upgrade following its 1998 privatisation. The Australian minister for transport and regional services, John Anderson, approved the airport's plan for a new passenger terminal last month. Final negotiations have begun with airlines to enable an opening in late 2001. The Belgian Ministry of Transport plans to impose a curfew at Brussels airport from 2003, closing it for night operations between 01.00 and 05.00. This will have a significant effect on DHL, which operates a major night-time hub at the airport, and has met fierce opposition. The opening of the new runway at Manchester Airport in the UK has been delayed by at least three months, until August. Emergency refurbishment at Pristina Airport in Kosovo is being carried out by a team of companies led by UK-based Racal Avionics. The work is needed to bring the airport up to international civil aviation operating standards so that the relief effort can continue through the winter. Racal will co-ordinate work on repairing equipment, such as navigation aids, damaged during the fighting.
Source: Flight International
