THE A-380 WON'T BE LANDING IN DEMOCRACIES:

Budget airlines and green activists unite to fight airport plan (Dan Milmo, May 31, 2007, The Guardian)

Budget airlines and green activists, normally on opposite sides of the argument on climate change, called a truce yesterday as they united to oppose the expansion of Stansted airport.

The makeshift alliance was formed at the start of a public inquiry into allowing more flights at Britain's third largest airport. Environmental groups described it as the sternest test of government aviation policy since climate change became a major political issue.

Ryanair, whose chief executive, Michael O'Leary, regularly refers to climate change campaigners as "tree huggers", joined with other no-frills carriers and green organisations in calling for the plan to be thrown out.

Stansted's owner, BAA, is seeking permission to increase the maximum number of passengers flying in and out of rural Essex from 25 million to 35 million people a year.