Early morning flights to rise at Heathrow

Published: 19 May 2013
By Chris Haycock

Proposals put forward by Heathrow Airport suggest that some flights may switch from 6am-7am to one hour earlier, using one airport runway instead of two. Local residents would suffer from additional noise from aircraft, which could mean as many as a dozen more planes flying the landing path. However, residents on the other path would suffer little, or no disturbance from noise. Heathrow Airport submitted the proposals to the Airports Commission, and also include: - Allowing aircraft to take off and land eastwards where the wind is lower, leading to a reduction in noise disturbance over London and sixty less arrivals a day. - Spreading aircraft landing to more flight paths to lessen noise pollution. - Using 'operational freedom' plans, which will include 'early vectoring', allowing planes to divert quicker off traditional take-off flight paths. Colin Matthews, Heathrow airport's Chief Executive said that the plans could address the airport's capacity problems, and that they are "listening to local residents' concerns".