East Midlands Airport to go eco-friendly

The UK's first airport wind turbines could be installed at East Midlands Airport if new proposals are approved, it has been announced.

Four turbines could generate ten per cent of the energy required by the hub, which is located close to Nottingham, Derby and Leicester, by spring 2008 if they get the go-ahead.

Airport managing director Penny Coates said that the plans represent "fantastic news" for the hub as it takes steps towards making site operations completely carbon-neutral by 2012.

"In addition to our plans to install turbines, we have increased the proportion of our energy that comes from renewable sources this year to 20 per cent," she commented.

She added that East Midlands Airport already has an on-site recycling service, among other environmentally-friendly measures. The turbines would be installed away from operational sites such as runways for safety reasons.

Airlines that fly from the airport include bmi and Eastern Airways.

• United Airlines to resume flights from London to Denver
• British Airways strikes inflight entertainment deal
• Tunarama Festival to attract visitors to Australia
• Paphos Airport gets off to good start
• British Airways fliers to "breeze" through JFK
• Winter season underway in Austria
• Ski slopes opening in Alberta
• Air Berlin launches new flights from Stansted Airport
• Air New Zealand, Boeing confirm biofuel test flight
• 'Jumbo Hostel' to open at Stockholm Arlanda Airport