Heathrow night flights freeze.

20 May, 2006

The government has backed down on its proposal to increase the limit on the number of night flights landing at Heathrow following a campaign by residents, local MPs and pressure group Hacan Clearskies. The current limit of 16 flights into the airport between 23.30 and 06.00 will continue to apply until 2012. The six-year moratorium and the promise of consultation on any future plans to change the limit helped the government avoid defeat of a key clause in its civil aviation bill giving it the right to remove limits on night flights into Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. The bill has now been passed by the House of Commons.