HEATHROW NIGHT FLIGHTS MISERY TO CONTINUE UNTIL AT LEAST 2025
26 July 2021
For immediate use
HEATHROW NIGHT FLIGHTS MISERY TO CONTINUE UNTIL AT LEAST 2025
The Government has decided to extend the existing night flights regime which impacts communities living both close to and under flights paths serving Heathrow Airport (1) – a decision which a resident-led campaign group has branded ‘gutless’ and a failure of policymakers to act sooner to reduce the disturbance to residents across London caused by night flights.
Night flights are regulated by Government due to the disturbance they cause. At Heathrow, 5,800 flights are permitted throughout the year within the restricted period of 11pm – 6am. This equates to roughly 16 per night (2). The majority of these are arrivals between 4.30 and 6am. Many fly over London from as early as 4am.
Night flights policy is reviewed every five years. The current regime was due to expire in October 2022. A consultation earlier this year sought views on continuing with the existing arrangements for an additional two years whilst a long-term policy review was conducted.
The Government, however, decided that existing arrangements will be rolled over for a period of three years rather than two. They argue that a two-year rollover “would no longer provide enough time for the government to have conducted thorough research to properly inform and develop a new evidence-based night noise regime. This is because of a change in the government’s view on the pace and trajectory of the aviation sector’s recovery” (see note 1).
Campaign group Stop Heathrow Expansion argued in its submission to the consultation (3), that night flights at Heathrow cause major disturbance to sleep for large numbers of people under flight paths and they should not be permitted during the hours of 11pm and 7am, allowing those living under airport flight paths the opportunity to have eight hours sleep each night. This is in line with World Health Organisation recommendations.
The group also argue that the Government has had many years to review its policy on night flights and the failure to do so does not justify delaying the changes that are long-overdue for a further three years.
Further, the pandemic should not be used as an excuse to delay long term reform to night flights policy and that reviews into the impact of night flights must take into account the mental and physical health impacts of exposure to aircraft noise at night time, with the final policy adequately balancing these issues compared to any supposed economic benefits of night flights that the aviation industry claim.
Local politicians have argued that night flights should be ended whilst traffic levels at Heathrow are substantially lower during the pandemic. Chelsea & Fulham MP Greg Hands has called repeatedly on Heathrow to adjust its schedule whilst it has available capacity so that residents right across London are not disturbed by night flights (4).
A consultation on long term night flights policy (beyond 2025) closes on 3rd September (5).
Geraldine Nicholson from local campaign group Stop Heathrow Expansion, said:
“This is a gutless move on the part of the Government. Communities around Heathrow who both need and deserve a decent night’s sleep need night flights to end now, not in three years’ time. We were not consulted on an extension. We were consulted on what should happen between 2022 and 2024. An extension of current arrangements to 2024 was not palatable for the majority of residents. Another year is totally unacceptable. This decision makes a mockery of public consultation if the Government only takes into account the view of the aviation industry.
“The pandemic cannot be used in this context as an excuse for a process which was due to change some years ago. It is a failure of policymakers that three more years of this regime means less sleep and detrimental health impacts to those on the ground.”
ENDS.
Notes:
Night flights decision document, July 2021. Summary on p. 4 – 5. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1004311/night-flight-restrictions-at-heathrow-gatwick-and-stansted-decision-document.pdf
Existing night flights arrangements, Department for Transport, p. 2 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/941422/annex-c-the-current-situation-at-the-designated-airports.pdf
Stop Heathrow Expansion response to night flights (part 1) consultation, March 2021 https://stopheathrowexpansion.co.uk/news/2021/2/8/night-flights-consultation-response-guide
Greg Hands MP: Heathrow should end night flights during pandemic https://twitter.com/GregHands/status/1415419402791567362
AND https://www.greghands.com/petition-suspension-heathrow-airport-night-flights
5. Long term night flights policy consultation https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/night-flights-restrictions-at-heathrow-gatwick-and-stansted-airports-beyond-2024-plus-national-night-flight-policy/night-flights-restrictions-at-heathrow-gatwick-and-stansted-airports-beyond-2024-plus-national-night-flight-policy