Government dithers on Heathrow night flights. Again.
Press Release from Stop Heathrow Expansion and HACAN
For immediate use
22 February 2024
Government dithers on Heathrow night flights. Again.
Bad news for communities around Heathrow has been delivered by Government today, with the current night flights regime proposed to continue for an additional three years until October 2028, meaning continued disruption to sleep from Heathrow planes (1).
Currently there are 5,800 scheduled night fights permitted between 11pm and 6am at Heathrow per year (2). This quota does not take into account any unscheduled flights that arrive or depart from the airport during the night time period.
The Government’s review of night flights, published today and out for consultation until 22nd May, recommends the continuation of the current regime, which began in October 2017 and was due to expire in October 2025, is now extended until October 2028. They argue this is in order to provide more time for evidence on the impact of night flights to be gathered.
However, campaign groups Stop Heathrow Expansion and HACAN believe that the original timetable of October 2025 should be adhered to so that a change to bring about the end of flights at night can take place at the earliest opportunity, given the level of disturbance that night flights have on people’s sleep and quality of life (3).
The campaign groups believe that there should be a ban on flights arriving and departing Heathrow between 11pm and 7am, particularly given the high levels of aircraft traffic at the airport throughout the daytime period, including late into the evening. Night flights also generate additional ground noise which can be heard in the areas immediately around Heathrow, adding to disturbances.
Justine Bayley, Chair of Stop Heathrow Expansion, said:
“Night time aircraft noise is loathed by so many people around Heathrow, so news that the existing arrangements for scheduled night flights will continue for another three years is not good. We deserve eight hours sleep per night, uninterrupted by noise from scheduled and unscheduled night flights.”
Paul Beckford, Coordinator of HACAN, said:
“Communities have long campaigned against night flights because the noise during these hours causes significant physical and mental health impacts. The Government has finally funded new research into these but took so long to do so that they are forced to roll over the existing regime again. This means more unnecessary blight for residents. If this extension proceeds then Government should commit to a comprehensive and independent analysis of the total health, environmental and economic impacts of night flights.”
ENDS.
Notes:
1. Night flight restrictions consultation https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/night-flight-restrictions-heathrow-gatwick-and-stansted-airports-from-october-2025/night-flight-restrictions-heathrow-gatwick-and-stansted-airports-from-october-2025
2. Current night flight restrictions https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940002/annex-c-the-current-situation-at-the-designated-airports.pdf
3. ‘Sleep disturbance’; Impact on night time aviation noise on human health https://www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Environment/Noise/Aviation-noise-and-health/