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Heathrow night flights to continue until third runway is built Heathrow night flights to continue until third runway is built
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Night flights from Heathrow will persist until the airport is expanded, the government has confirmed, as it published new rules to encourage quieter aircraft across London’s three biggest airports. Night flights from Heathrow will continue until the airport is expanded, the government has confirmed, as it published new rules to encourage quieter aircraft across London’s three biggest airports.
The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, said efforts to reduce the total noise permitted from flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted showed the government was taking the issue very seriously, but residents’ groups said the proposals were “business as usual”.The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, said efforts to reduce the total noise permitted from flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted showed the government was taking the issue very seriously, but residents’ groups said the proposals were “business as usual”.
Grayling said that although he supported a six-and-a-half-hour nightly window without flights once Heathrow’s third runway was built, he had to strike a balance between the economic benefits of flying and the impact on local residents. Grayling said that although he supported a six-and-a-half hour nightly window without flights once Heathrow’s third runway was built, he had to strike a balance between the economic benefits of flying and the impact on local residents.
But he confirmed that a parliamentary vote on Heathrow expansion would not be held until at least 2018, rather than the winter of 2017-18, as previously stated. He confirmed that a parliamentary vote on Heathrow expansion would not be held until at least 2018, rather than the winter of 2017-18, as previously stated.
The new measures will ensure that all flights, including smaller and quieter planes, are counted within quotas on movements and lower overall noise limits. However, the rules reflect a trend towards much quieter, modern planes and are unlikely to affect airlines’ operations significantly. The measures will ensure that all flights, including smaller and quieter planes, are counted within quotas on movements and lower overall noise limits. However, the rules reflect a trend towards much quieter, more modern planes and are unlikely to affect airlines’ operations significantly.
In a written statement to parliament, Grayling said that caps had not kept pace with technology, but the new measures would “lock in the benefits”. He said: “I am fully aware that noise is a major concern for those living near these airports, and that night noise is widely regarded as the most disturbing impact of aviation.” In a written statement to parliament, Grayling said caps had not kept pace with technology, but the new measures would “lock in the benefits”.
“I am fully aware that noise is a major concern for those living near these airports and that night noise is widely regarded as the most disturbing impact of aviation,” he said.
The five-year caps on noise come after a consultation launched in January on the night flight regime, with the government rejecting calls from campaigners for a clampdown on night noise. Grayling said: “This decision strikes a balance between managing the impacts on local communities by locking in the benefits offered by recent technological developments, with the economic benefits of night flights.”The five-year caps on noise come after a consultation launched in January on the night flight regime, with the government rejecting calls from campaigners for a clampdown on night noise. Grayling said: “This decision strikes a balance between managing the impacts on local communities by locking in the benefits offered by recent technological developments, with the economic benefits of night flights.”
Residents remained sceptical. John Stewart, chair of campaigning group Hacan, said: “Today’s statement shows that the government recognises how important night flights are to local communities, but essentially they are proposing business as usual.” Residents remained sceptical. John Stewart, the chair of campaigning group Hacan, said: “Today’s statement shows that the government recognises how important night flights are to local communities, but essentially they are proposing business as usual.”
Campaigners for communities around Gatwick said the government’s response was disappointing, and warned that the new quotas allowed for more night flights in the winter than currently operated by the airport. Campaigners for communities around Gatwick said the government’s response was disappointing and warned that the quotas allowed for more night flights in winter than currently operated by the airport.
A spokesperson for Heathrow said the airport welcomed the government’s efforts, adding: “We know this is an issue that is particularly important to our local communities, and we have already been working with our airlines to reduce the number of late-running flights.” A spokesperson for Heathrow said the airport welcomed the government’s efforts, adding: “We know this is an issue that is particularly important to our local communities and we have already been working with our airlines to reduce the number of late-running flights.”
In the statement, Grayling acknowledged that last month’s snap general election would lead to further delays on the parliamentary vote on expansion, which would now take place in the “first half of 2018”. The transport select committee will also need to restart its inquiry into the policy, which is unlikely to begin until after the parliamentary summer and conference recesses. In the statement, Grayling acknowledged that the general election last month would lead to further delays on the parliamentary vote on expansion, which would now take place in the “first half of 2018”. The transport select committee will also need to restart its inquiry into the policy, which is unlikely to begin until after the parliamentary summer and conference recesses.
Theresa May’s new minority government is unlikely to significantly affect the chances of the vote passing the House of Commons. Although the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, whose constituency borders the airport, are personally opposed to third runway expansion, a majority of the party’s MPs are in favour. Labour’s manifesto says it “recognises the need for additional airport capacity in the south-east”. Theresa May’s loss of her majority is unlikely to significantly affect the chances of the vote passing through the House of Commons. Although the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, whose constituency borders the airport, are personally opposed to third runway expansion, a majority of the party’s MPs are in favour. Labour’s manifesto says it “recognises the need for additional airport capacity in the south-east”.