TIME TO AIR YOUR VIEWS ON EDINBURGH AIRSPACE.....
Hard as it might be to believe this, but it's more than 50 years since the UK's airspace (our highway system in the sky) was developed. Today, passenger demand is 100 times higher than it was then. Aircraft are much more fuel-efficient and sophisticated, environmental concerns are to the fore and the Single European Sky project has simplified and harmonised air traffic control.
The need to modernise airspace is unquestionable - the costs, if we don't, are staggering (
click here for more on this subject).
Edinburgh is a case in point. EDI's airspace was designed in the 1970's, with a much smaller volume of traffic. The airport has grown more in the past three years than it did in the previous ten and that growth has opened up new markets for our members - to many UK, European and long haul destinations.
For the opening up of new markets and opportunities to continue, Edinburgh needs to modernise its airspace. The airport has been conducting a public consultation - the Edinburgh Airport Airspace Change Programme - and the first phase of that has been completed. Now comes phase two, in which interested parties are called on to comment on a series of alternative arrival and departure flight paths, with the Airport's preferred routes identified and explained.
The SPAA will be responding in detail, but it's important that you make your own voice heard too. This is your chance to air your views and have your say on a vital issue affecting the whole of Scotland - not just the south east of the country. The Consultation runs until the end of April and you can find all the details at
http://www.letsgofurther.com
Please invest a few minutes of your time and respond!
Back down to earth - what a great night was had by all at STAR Edinburgh on Thursday night, when more than 125 SPAA members networked with nearly 50 Associate exhibitors in the fabulous Principal Edinburgh George Hotel. And what a list of prizes was on offer - champagne, chocolates, goodie bags, Easter eggs..... and some terrific travel prizes from our generous sponsors. You'll see more below.
Next up is the Spring Seminar & Networking Lunch in Glasgow on Thursday 20 April. The Seminar will examine where the lines are drawn for travel agents' liability in today's claims culture - a subject that affects us all significantly. You won't want to miss this, so please contact Janice Hogarth at
jhogarth@spaa.org for the details, and I hope to catch up with many of you there!
