The UK government has issued a new consultation on night flights, looking at noise objectives for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. In a press statement from the Department for Transport and Aviation Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton, they state the purpose of the consultation is to ensure that the impact of night flights at these airports does not outwiegh the positive impacts they bring to the wider economy. They also state that aircraft are becoming quieter as technology advances, with this trend expected to continue. However, the government recognises that noise from aircraft taking off and landing at night is often regarded by communities as the most disturbing form of airport operations. The six week consultation is intended to inform objectives for setting the groundwork for future measures on how to manage aviation noise at night at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, from October 2025.
This announcement was accompanied by a revised overarching aviation policy statement, which reaffirms the foundation for noise policy for the entirety of the aviation sector, covering flights at all times of day or night. In addition, guidance for allowing dispensation for operators to fly night flights will be looked at. The summer of 2022 proved challenging from an international air traffic control perspective and resulted in an increase in late-running flights and a corresponding higher number of night flight dispensations. Updating the dispensation guidance will form part of the main night flight regime consultation, which is anticipated to be published in late 2023.
Consultation – night-time noise abatement objectives - closes May 9th
Aviation noise policy statment
