A report commissioned by European Transport Ministers into the implications of Europe's growing air traffic saturation problem says that by 2005 the system will be unable to accommodate around seven percent of demand. Entitled ``Constraints to Growth,'' the report predicts that 36 percent of anticipated demand for air travel will be unsatisfied by 2020, and lack of airport capacity will be ``as constraining as lack of en-route capacity.''

The British government plans to commission a major study of aircraft noise -- the first since the Aircraft Noise Index Study was undertaken in 1985. The investigation will focus on the perceived relationship between noise levels and annoyance, sleep disturbance at night and the value of lower noise levels relative to other environmental factors. Three recent government-sponsored studies on sleep disturbance also will be taken into account within the new study.

Charter broker Air Partner has begun providing a worldwide executive jet service specifically for British Airways passengers. The new business will complement BA's flight network, the airline said, enabling customers to charter an aircraft onto their final destination, wherever that may be. The company claims that booking a business jet is as ``easy as renting a car.'' Four categories of aircraft -- turboprops and small, medium and heavy jets -- are available at daily rates for a block of miles to keep pricing simple.