Gatwick conservation campaigners join more than 200 environmental groups in demanding end to night flights

Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) and more than 220 environmental groups have signed up to demand for a ban on flights between 11pm and 7am.

A GACC spokesperson said: “Night flights are widely recognised as unnecessary, unhealthy and unjust. Not only are they unpopular around Gatwick, across the country and around the world, and it is now beyond dispute that they seriously damage people’s health.

“Recent Department of Transport and Civil Aviation Authority reports have shown that aircraft noise has a far greater impact on people's health than the government has been prepared to admit – historically they have ignored World Health Organisation recommendations which said exactly that as far back as 2018.”

Peter Barclay, chairman of GACC, said: “Gatwick has more night flights than any other designated airport in the UK. Meanwhile Eurostar is currently operating at 40 per cent capacity and it is high time that night-time traffic is transferred from plane to train.

“GACC are standing shoulder to shoulder with communities around airports and under flight paths whose health is impacted by night flights calling for a global ban.

Jonathan Essex, vice-chair of GACC added: “Current night time restrictions only cover the six-and-a-half hours between 11.30pm and 6am.

“The Government needs to bite the bullet and bring an end to night flights at Gatwick and nationally.

“People's health and welfare needs to be put ahead of cheap holidays and aviation industry profits.

“Night flights must be banned for the full recommended eight hours between 11pm and 7am, to reflect to the real sleep time for those living under flight paths.”

A London Gatwick spokesperson said: “We recognise night flights can be a concern for some local people and we are bringing noise levels down year-on-year, but we know managing noise still matters.

“The Department for Transport (DfT) sets restrictions at London Gatwick to manage night flights and we fully comply with these limits.

“We also have a range of measures to reduce noise impacts including a Noise Insulation Scheme and our aircraft noise charges which encourage airlines to operate the quietest fleet possible during the sensitive night period.

“Airlines also invest heavily each year in purchasing new, quieter aircraft.

“It is important to note however that many thousands of individuals, families and business across the region benefit from the jobs and economic prosperity the airport provides.

“The DfT’s aviation noise policy strikes a balance between these two important aspects and we will continue to enforce the restrictions on night-time flying that the Government set."