Heathrow Airport Night Flights Ban Urged

The issue of airport night flights entered the news on 27th January 2011, when a new London Heathrow report was released and unveiled in the House of Commons.

Carried out at the request of campaign organisation Hacan Clearskies by CE Delft, the report emphasises the financial benefits that banning night flights at London Heathrow could achieve.

Annual socio-economic savings of over £800 million could result, it says, while BAA – the airport operating group that owns the UK’s flagship air travel hub – has stressed that no more night flights will be added to current Heathrow schedules.

“We commissioned this report to test out the claims that a night flight ban would damage the economy”, Hacan Clearskies Chair, John Stewart, explained, adding: “Its dramatic findings destroy the last remaining argument for night flights.”

Ban on Night Flights

In its report, CE Delft examines three revisions to the present Heathrow arrangements, including a total ban on night flights

• All night flights moved to daylight hours. This would cost an estimated £250m to implement, but ultimately produced £821m in savings
• All night flights moved to daylight hours, but with flight transfers relocated to another site (i.e. only flight ending at Heathrow allowed in). Implementation costs - £28 million. Ultimate savings £884 million
• Night flights banned outright and no rescheduling put in place. £898 million to implement, and this would produce a multi-million loss.

Heathrow Airport Night Flights

Typically, 16 Heathrow airport night flights take place each night within a six-and-a-half hour slot that starts at 11.30pm, the report states. According to opposers, associated aircraft noise disrupts sleep, is detrimental to human health and reduces productivity levels at work during the daytime.

A new round of British Government airport night flight consultations will be carried out before the end of 2011.

“At the last night flights' consultation in 2006 we did not seek any increase in flights during the night period and our position has not changed since then”, BAA Heathrow said in a statement.

“We look forward to participating fully in the next Government consultation.”

See also:

Heathrow Runway 3 Ruling Favours Protestors