DOUBLE AIRPORT FLIGHTS? have your say

Thanks for the growing list of groups and individuals joining together to challenge Newcastle Airport’s plans to double flights, extend its runway and increase private jet services. There's info below on how you can get involved, to make the challenge even stronger.

Twice as many flights means soaraway emissions - bad news for local people, local wildlife and our planet. Aviation is becoming one of the UK's biggest sources of harmful greenhouse gases. 

Newcastle Airport’s final version of its Masterplan 2040 is expected soon, as the current consultation nears the deadline. Planning applications may follow, early in 2026. Here's how we can all prevent this from happening.

 Stop Newcastle Airport

DOUBLING flights        

• We invite you and all groups who want to stop flights and emissions from doubling to join our alliance, to keep informed and co-ordinate at times when it really matters. Please sign up to maximise our power: email stopflightsdoubling@protonmail.com (this is replacing stopflightsdoubling@gmail.com for greater security, but please use both until early January just as backup)

• And individuals are very welcome to get involved in the core Airport campaign. We welcome volunteers and individual supporters to speak out, oppose planning applications, fundraise, lobby decision-makers and liaise with other airport campaigns. Every little helps!

  Email stopflightsdoubling@protonmail.com to join the mailing list, or for info about how to help the steering group (this is replacing stopflightsdoubling@gmail.com for greater security, but please use both until early January just as backup).

WHY THIS MATTERS

Newcastle Airport's big expansion plans mean passenger numbers could double, to 9 million by 2040. Yet a Commons committee recently warned such plans put the UK's net zero target in "serious jeopardy": "The government has not demonstrated that the economic growth from airport expansion provides enough benefit to outweigh the negative climate and environmental impacts it will lead to.” (coverage here).

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO RESPONSED TO THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION: The consultation period about Masterplan 2040 was a vital chance for our community questions and challenges. Our formal CAN response, which has been sent to the Masterplan organisers, can be read here.

Airport consultation online survey: closed 30 November.

Consultation events: Cramlington (12 August), Woolsington, Kingston Park, Dinnington, Ponteland and Heddon  (8 Oct) and Wideopen (13 Nov), added after pressure by campaigners.  

NEWS: following our request at a consultation, the Airport has supplied its most recent estimate of carbon emissions from flights (known as Scope 3). This is 51,685 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) - source here. This relates to 2020. We have asked that Scope 3 estimates are referred to in the Masterplan final version.

Newcastle Airport’s Masterplan 2040 proposals - the vital questions

Newcastle Airport’s plans for growth are accompanied by suggested sustainability measures - it is very important to highlight that these cover the operation of the airport ONLY. They do NOT include the emissions arising from the huge number of extra flights proposed.

• We encourage everyone taking part in the consultation to ask the airport to make clear that flight emissions increases are NOT included in the Masterplan (on all the airport's publicity materials) and ask them to provide, as soon as possible, estimates for the likely additional greenhouse house gas emissions (based on current types of aviation fuel).

These increased emissions will accelerate the problems caused by climate breakdown. This will affect all of us and wildlife and the environment. But most of the flights causing these emissions are taken by a MINORITY of people. Seventy per cent of flights are taken by 15% of the UK population (info here).

• Please ask Newcastle Airport: why should 100% of the population and wildlife suffer the consequences of even faster temperatures increases and extreme weather damage, when most of the flights are taken by a better-off minority of the population?

Key proposals and their climate and environmental implications include:

• Expansion Details:

  • Passenger Growth: Aiming for 9 million passengers by 2040, nearly double the current number and a huge increase in the number of flights and associated harmful emissions and noise and light pollution.

  • Increase in private jet flights: Expanding the current Executive Jet Centre or even building a new bigger facility is included in the plans. Half of all emissions from flying are caused by 1% of people, and private jet use has doubled in recent years (more info on private jets and calls for a Frequent Flyers levy, here)

  • Terminal and Infrastructure Expansion: A three-storey terminal extension, additional baggage carousels and more than 20 new aircraft stands. These would reduce reliance on remote stands and facilitate increased air traffic.

  • Runway Extension to allow longer-haul destinations: A proposed 700-meter extension to the eastern runway; longer-haul destinations would enable more carbon-intensive flights.

  • AirLink Cargo Hub: A 750,000 sq ft cargo facility, which will contribute to increased freight emissions.

• Newcastle Airport also has Net Zero Carbon by 2035 proposals (see below - please note: this ONLY applies to airport site operations - not flights).

Aviation’s share of carbon emissions: the global picture 

Aviation is a major contributor to global warming, which is on course to INCREASE, despite the world being on course miss its Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees C global increase..

• Despite efficiency improvements in aircraft (a flight now has half the CO2 of same flight in 1990), the rapid growth in air travel demand has increased total emissions (emissions in 2023 were over 90% of pre-pandemic levels; projected to exceed 2019 levels during 2025).

• Aviation currently accounts for 2.5% of global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and land use.

• Non-CO2 effects (nitrogen oxides, water vapour, contrails) also contribute to warming

• The overall climate impact of aviation is estimated to be around 3.5% of all human-induced climate impact.

Globally, less than 1% of the world’s population is responsible for more than 50% of commercial aviation emissions. Air travel is mainly by people with higher incomes.

***STOP FLIGHTS DOUBLING CAMPAIGN STEERING GROUP:

 Many community and climate groups were unaware of the airport's plans - perhaps because they emerged in the summer with little fanfare. These two groups began the awareness raising to ensure people had the opportunity to respond to the consultation:

• Newcastle Aircraft Noise Action campaign: a campaign by local residents about the harms caused to their lives by Newcastle airport by noise pollution, light pollution and carbon emissions that are speeding up global temperature rises. This video presented by Roger Haydon helps explain their goals. https://www.aircraftnoiseaction.com/

• Climate Action Newcastle: a large local climate group which also has strong links to Friends of the Earth, with its campaigning and legal expertise to draw on. www.climateactionnewcastle.com

We also campaigned to ensure this petition against airport expansions across the UK reached the total to require a Government response. You can see the details and the response here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/714927  

***VITAL LINKS AND READING:

There is lots of useful information available from these groups:

• No Airport Expansion campaign: https://www.noairportexpansion.org/. Includes fact-sheets on greenwashing, including one on Net Zero, that provides some arguments about "carbon neutrality" of airports.  

• Stay Grounded campaign: https://stay-grounded.org/

• Friends of the Earth: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/can-flying-ever-be-green

• Flight Free campaign: https://flightfree.co.uk/

• GALBA campaign (about Leeds Bradford Airport): https://www.galba.uk/

Reducing emissions caused by flights, through raising awareness of alternatives 

Amongst proposals to reduce the hard caused by emissions from flights are:

·        encouraging shifts to less emission-intensive modes of transport (e.g. rail) for shorter journeys and the development of greater choice, including sleeper services across Europe

·        a levy on frequent flyers (who are predominantly higher income) could ramp up charges, the more flights are taken by these frequent flyers. 57% of the UK population supports a frequent flyer levy, with 29% against (source: YouGov, here)

·        deterrents to reduce the growth in private air travel or even a total ban on private jets

·        development of greener maritime options

·        Increase in use of virtual meetings as alternatives to business travel 

Proposed ways to reduce aviation emissions

Decarbonising aviation presents a significant challenge, with various strategies currently being explored and implemented. Read our infosheet here, which includes:

·        Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)

• Fuel-efficient Aircraft and Technology

• Operational efficiencies

• Airport hub sustainability improvements (examples in Infosheet)

• Improved Air Traffic management

• Electrification of ground operations

• Market-based measures

More info here:  FAQ on aviation produced by No Airport Expansion campaign

Newcastle Airport's Net Zero Carbon by 2035 proposals (please note: this ONLY applies to airport site operations - not flights).

The airport aims to:

• Expand on-site solar farm capacity.

• Install wind turbines for further on-site renewable power.

• Target 65% recycling on-site.

• Plant trees and establish woodlands for biodiversity.

• Modernise infrastructure to support electric vehicles and transition to an EV fleet.

• Use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) for non-electric operational vehicles.

  Scope of Net Zero Target: it is vital to note that the Net Zero Carbon by 2035 target specifically applies to the airport’s own direct operations (Scope 1 and 2 emissions). These typically include emissions from electricity consumption for buildings and facilities, heating, and the airport’s own ground vehicles and equipment.

  Crucially, this target does NOT include the vast majority of aviation’s carbon footprint: the emissions from aircraft (classified as Scope 3 emissions from flights) taking off and landing at the airport. These flight emissions represent the dominant source of greenhouse gases associated with airport activity and are generally outside the direct operational control of the airport itself, falling under airline responsibility.

  The airport has a 34% reduction in carbon emissions for its hub operations since 2019, a 40% recycling rate, and Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 4 status.

With thanks to Alan Trevethan for research support (many more blogs are available on his website):

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