May 9, 2006. HACAN ClearSkies. The Government climbed down over its plans to increase night flights at Heathrow in order to avoid defeat over key clauses of its Civil Aviation Bill in the House of Commons last night (1). Transport Minister Derek Twigg announced that the number of night flights between 11.30pm and 6am will remain at 16 per night for the next six years (2).

The surprise announcement helped rescue the Government from possible defeat in the House of Commons last night over a key clause in the Civil Aviation Bill. The clause to give the Government power to remove any limit on the number of night flights using Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick airports had been thrown in the Lords by a majority of 40 votes.

Last night the Government won the backing of the Commons to reinstate the clause after promising a limit on night flights would remain in place for six years and that any plans to lift it subsequently would be subject to full consultation.

Last night's statement by the Minister said nothing about how many night flights may be using Heathrow between 6am and 7am. A full announcement will made later this month.

HACAN ClearSkies Chair John Stewart commented, "For our members, every night flight is one too many. We would like to see a complete ban. But this announcement is something of a climbdown. The Government had been talking about increasing night flights before 6am. It shows how much pressure it has been under from local residents and from an increasing number of MPs."