Government proposes to increase night flight numbers at Heathrow

Night flights at Heathrow could reach 6,420 by 2011

The Government is proposing to increase the number of night flights at Heathrow from 5,800 a year at present to reach 6,420 in 2011/12, according to the consultation on night flights released by the Department for Transport today (1).

The consultation was originally expected to be released in January of this year. Because of the delay, the Government has had no option but to retain the existing night flight regimes at Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick for another year. But from October 2006 the consultation proposes increasing the number of flights using Heathrow year by year until it reaches 6,420 in 2011/12.

The consultation is proposing limiting the noisiest planes currently using the three airports, but admits this will make little difference at Heathrow because all the night flights using the airport are large, noisy planes coming from the Far East, America and Africa.

John Stewart, Chair HACAN ClearSkies said, “We are disappointed the Government has ruled out a ban, but dismayed they are proposing an increase in night flights. More people will be woken up more often throughout the night. It will simply spread the night-time misery.”

The proposals all concern the period between 11.30pm and 6am, known as the night qouta period (2). The Department is arguing that, because the noisiest pplanes currently flying at night will be banned, they will be able to bring in more planes without worsening the overall noise climate at night. Stewart said, “The overall noise climate is meaningless to residents under the flight path. What matters is the number of passing over their homes. The Government knows this. That is why it has tried to bury the figure well into the consultation document”.

Notes to editors

  1. Figures to be found in para 7.25 of the consultation document, but not mentioned in the Department’s press release.

  2. The full night period runs from 11pm – 7am, but the Government is just proposing tough restrictions for what is called “the night quota period” from 11.30pm to 6am.

  3. The full consulation document is available on the DfT website – the closing date for comments is 16th September.

For further information contact John Stewart on 020 7737 6641 or 07957 385650.