New measures to reduce the noise from Heathrow night flights have been announced by the Government, but an anti-Heathrow expansion group has said this does not mean the number of flights will be reduced.

Measures out for public consultation today (January 12) will “help encourage the use of quieter aircraft” at Heathrow, the Department for Transport (DfT) said, as well as those from Gatwick and Stansted.

But anti-Heathrow expansion campaign group HACAN said this just means quieter aircraft may be used, but the current limit of 16 arrivals between 11.30am and 6am will remain the same.

HACAN chairman John Stewart said: “There are different aircraft which may be quieter. But arrivals into Heathrow at that time tend to be the bigger, long-haul flights from Asia or America anyway.

“The first plane lands at 4.30am and it will stay the same.

“An average of 16 scheduled landings come in between 4.30am and 6am – so they’re right on the limit.”

Current night flight restrictions at the three airports expire in October 2017, and the new proposed rules will last for the next five years, up to 2022.

HACAN said it is likely the Government will impose a reduction in night flight noise levels as a condition of a potential third runway.

Measures out for consultation include:

  • Reducing the total noise quota at Heathrow Airport by at least 43 per cent in the winter (from 4,080 to 2,340) and 50 per cent in the summer (5,100 to 2,540)
  • Reducing noise quotas at Gatwick by at least 17 per cent in the winter (from 2,000 to 1,655) and 21 per cent in the summer (6,200 to 4,870)
  • Setting a strict cap at existing levels for the number of night flights from Heathrow and Gatwick
  • Ending exemptions for almost 1700 night flights operating out of Stansted by including these in the new cap, setting a strict limit which the airport cannot exceed

Aviation minister Lord Ahmad said: “This Government is committed to tackling the issue of aircraft noise, especially flights at night, which can be a blight for people living near airports. 

“Night flights are, however, important to the economy, creating extra choice for passengers and moving freight, and we need to carefully balance the needs of local communities with the benefits these flights can bring. 

“That’s why we are encouraging the use of quieter aircraft by bringing in tighter noise quotas at the airports and setting strict caps on aircraft movements at night.”

Lord True, leader of Richmond Council, argued the number of planes that depart and arrive Heathrow at night is already "unacceptable".

He said: "And whilst this does propose a slight reduction – it is not an all-out ban.

"As such this consultation ignores World Health Organisation guidance – which already states that Heathrow steps over the line when it comes to night noise."

The consultation will run until Tuesday, February 28, after which responses will be reviewed and a final decision on night flights will be published.

Consultation documents can be found here