Heathrow braced for new night flights battle

Ministers are preparing for a fresh battle over night flights at Heathrow which they fear could harden opposition to a third runway.

A consultation on a new night flights regime is due to take place this year.

At present 2,550 take-offs or landings are allowed at Heathrow between 11.30pm and 6am during the six-month winter season and 3,250 in the summer months — about 16 a night.

Ministers sought to relax the restrictions in 2006 when they were last reviewed and campaigners believe they will launch another attempt to pave the way for more night flights from 2012, and a further increase between 6am and 7am.

John Stewart, chairman of anti-expansion group Hacan, said: "The Government gave no guarantee that the cap would be kept after 2012. That will be the fight."

The consultation on night flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted could start in the autumn.
Documents released under freedom of information laws highlight the Department for Transport's concerns.

Its business plan risk assessment states: "Consultation on the next night flights regime (possibly in autumn 2010) gets embroiled in other Heathrow consultations around the same time, leading to the issues becoming blurred in people's minds and possibly hardening opposition to Heathrow expansion."

A DfT spokesman said: "The number of night flights in and out of Heathrow is subject to strict limits set by the department, and this regime is updated every six years after public consultation.

"The decisions made about the future of Heathrow are completely separate from, and will not change, the current night flight regime. It is only right that the department ensures these two separate policies are not confused."