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Record number of flights to take to skies over UK in just one day Record number of flights to take to skies over UK in just one day
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The number of flights operating in UK airspace is expected to hit a record-high on Friday. The number of flights operating in UK airspace is expected to hit a record high on Friday as more than 9,000 planes take to the skies on the same day as schoolchildren around the world stage a climate strike.
The spike is due to a combination of factors, including the bank holiday weekend, the Monaco Grand Prix and the close of the Cannes Film Festival. The spike in British flights is down to a combination of factors, including the bank holiday weekend, the Monaco Grand Prix and the close of the Cannes film festival. There is also a significant rise in the number of private jets scheduled to fly to and from the French Riviera.
There is also a huge rise in the number of private jets scheduled to fly to and from the French Riviera.
More than 9,000 planes will take to the skies, despite mounting concern over the environmental impact of aviation.
The previous high came at the same time a year ago, with 8,854 flights, and air traffic controllers expect the numbers to increase again next week.The previous high came at the same time a year ago, with 8,854 flights, and air traffic controllers expect the numbers to increase again next week.
Thousands of fans are scheduled to fly from London for the Europa League final between Chelsea and Arsenal on Wednesday in Baku, Azerbaijan, many using charter and private jet flights. The anticipated record day is taking place as more than 100 school climate demonstrations are staged in the UK as part of a global protest by schoolchildren about the climate crisis. Aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Even more fans are heading for the Champions League final on 1 June in Madrid between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, often with multiple flights as direct links quickly sold out. Britain’s busiest airport, Heathrow, which had a record month of 6.79 million passengers in April, also announced on Friday that it would attempt to curb local air pollution by introducing an ultra-low emission zone, matching central London’s, around the airport from 2022. A congestion charge will also come into effect for cars and taxis in 2026, when the third runway is due to open.
Nats, the UK’s main air traffic control service, said it had put in place measures to optimise the use of airspace to handle extra flights while keeping delays to a minimum. However, it warned that increasing demand could soon cause more flights delays as parts of the airspace, particularly over the south-east of England, were already reaching capacity. Friends of the Earth released a report on Friday accusing the Department for Transport of “going rogue” on the climate crisis by continuing to pursue road-building schemes, as well as the third runway, without due regard to carbon emissions.
Juliet Kennedy, Nats operations director, said: “We are seeing unprecedented numbers of flights today and for the coming days as people head off on their holidays or to watch the football. Muna Suleiman, a climate campaigner at FoE, said: “We simply cannot allow aviation to continue expanding at this rate if we’re to have any chance of preventing further damage. It’s the richest minority taking the majority of the flights and then leaving the most disadvantaged communities to suffer the worst consequences of climate breakdown.”
“It is not just UK airspace that is busy; the rest of Europe is too. That is why we, and the industry, along with government are looking to modernise airspace over the next few years so we can reduce the environmental impact of flying and all be more confident that our holidays and business trips will not be affected by costly delays.”
The day of record flying coincides with more than 100 school climate demonstrations on Friday and growing calls to limit flying.
Britain’s busiest airport, Heathrow, which had a record month of 6.79 million passengers in April, announced on Friday that it would attempt to curb local air pollution by introducing an ultra-low emission zone, matching central London’s, around the airport from 2022. A congestion charge will also come into effect for cars and taxis in 2026, when the third runway is due to open.
Friends of the Earth today released a report accusing the Department for Transport of “going rogue” on the climate crisis by continuing to pursue road-building schemes, as well as the third runway, without due regard to carbon emissions.
Muna Suleiman, climate campaigner at FoE, said: “We simply cannot allow aviation to continue expanding at this rate if we’re to have any chance of preventing further damage. It’s the richest minority taking the majority of the flights and then leaving the most disadvantaged communities to suffer the worst consequences of climate breakdown.”
Airline industryAirline industry
Friends of the EarthFriends of the Earth
Cannes film festivalCannes film festival
Heathrow airportHeathrow airport
Air transportAir transport
Heathrow third runwayHeathrow third runway
Travel and transportTravel and transport
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