View source for Night flying restrictions

{{Short description|Regulations imposed to prevent aircraft noise}}
'''Night flying restrictions''' or '''night-time curfews''',<ref name="Zurich"/> including '''night flight bans''', are any regulations or [[legislation]] imposed by a governing body to limit the ground-perceived exposure to [[aircraft noise pollution]] during the night hours, when the majority of residents are trying to sleep. Such regulations may include restrictions to available flight paths, or prohibitions against takeoffs, or prohibitions against takeoffs and landings, or prohibitions against ground operations (engine runups or [[taxiing]]).

== List ==
=== Europe ===
[[File:Nachtflugbeschraenkungen DE 2006.jpg|thumb|Example: Night flying restrictions at German airports, data from 2006]] 
Several night flying restrictions including full night flight bans have been introduced in Europe in order to ensure that residents living near airports can sleep at night.
* [[Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport]], Hungary: A night flight ban between midnight and 05:00 was introduced in August 2019 by agreement between the city of Budapest and the Ministry of Transport. Nearby residents received a government subsidy to install soundproof windows.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://hungarytoday.hu/budapest-to-introduce-night-flight-ban-in-august/ |title=Budapest to Introduce Night Flight Ban in August |work=Hungary Today |date=23 April 2019 |accessdate=22 October 2020}}</ref>
* [[Cologne Bonn Airport]], Germany: In April 2012, the Government of North Rhine-Westphalia introduced a night flight ban for passenger aircraft from midnight until 05:00.<ref name="DE night flights"/>
* [[Frankfurt Airport]], Germany: In October 2011, the Supreme Court of Hesse imposed a ban on night flights between 23:00 and 05:00. This decision was upheld by the [[Federal Administrative Court (Germany)|Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig]] in April 2012.<ref name="DE night flights">{{Cite web |url=http://www.airport-business.com/2012/06/night-flight-bans-put-focus-on-noise-management/ |title=Night flight bans put focus on noise management |work=Airport Business |date=29 June 2012 |accessdate=22 October 2020}}</ref> During the morning and evening periods (22:00–23:00 and 05:00–06:00) a limited number of flights are allowed, providing they comply with ICAO Chapter 4 noise regulations. Further restrictions apply to noisier aircraft.<ref>AIP Germany. Version 06/16 (2016, May 26). AD 2 EDDF 1-16 (2.20.2.1.4).</ref>
* London airports: The night restrictions for [[London Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]], [[London Gatwick Airport|Gatwick]] and [[London Stansted Airport|Stansted]] define a night period, 23:00–07:00, and a [[Quota Count system|night quota period]], 23:30–06:00. During the night period, the noisiest types of aircraft (classified as QC/4, QC/8 or QC/16 under the [[Quota Count system]]) may not be scheduled to land or to take off (other than in the most exceptional circumstances, such as an [[emergency landing]]). In addition, during the night quota period movements by most other types of aircraft (including the new QC/0.25 category) will be restricted by a movements limit and a noise quota, which are set for each season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090607023527/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/nightflyingrestrictionsathea5940 |title=DfT statement |website=UK [[Department for Transport]] }}</ref>
* [[Zurich Airport]], Switzerland: A strict night-time curfew has been in force since 29 July 2010 between 23:30 and 06:00; the time between 23:00 and 23:30 may only be used to reduce backlogs of delayed flights.<ref name="Zurich">{{Cite web |url=https://www.zurich-airport.com/the-company/media/current-topics/night-flight-ban |title=Night flight ban |publisher=Zurich Airport |access-date=22 October 2020}}</ref>

=== Oceania ===
Curfews are not as common at international airports in Oceania as they are in Europe, though some airports do still have curfews if they surround densely populated suburbs.

==== Australia ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="4" | Curfews at Australian international airports
|-
! Airport
! State/territory
! Curfew?
! Notes
|-
| [[Adelaide Airport|Adelaide]]
| {{flag|South Australia}}
| {{yes|Yes (23:00 to 06:00)}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Curfew Information |website=[[Adelaide Airport]] |url=https://www.adelaideairport.com.au/corporate/community/curfew-information/ }}</ref>
|-
| [[Brisbane Airport|Brisbane]]
| {{flag|Queensland}}
| {{no|No}}
| Curfew proposed,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://greens.org.au/news/media-release/greens-announce-bill-impose-curfew-late-nights-flights-brisbane-airport | title=Greens announce bill to impose curfew on late nights flights from Brisbane Airport &#124; Australian Greens | date=6 September 2023 }}</ref> objected to by airport.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://newsroom.bne.com.au/cost-to-regional-queensland-of-brisbane-caps--curfew/ | title=Cost to regional Queensland of Brisbane caps & curfew }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Chapter3: Brisbane Airport |website=[[Brisbane Airport]] (BNE)  |url=https://www.bne.com.au/sites/default/files/docs/Chapter%203%20Brisbane%20Airport.pdf }}</ref>
|-
| [[Cairns Airport|Cairns]]
| {{flag|Queensland}}
| {{no|No}}
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Cairns Airport Guide |website=DriveNow.com.au |url=https://www.drivenow.com.au/travel-centre/cairns-airport-guide.jspc }}</ref>
|-
| [[Canberra Airport|Canberra]]
| {{flag|Australian Capital Territory}}
| {{no|No}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.canberraairport.com.au/corporate/community/aircraft-noise | title=Aircraft Noise |website=[[Canberra Airport]] }}</ref>
|-
| [[Darwin International Airport]]
| {{flag|Northern Territory}}
| {{no|No}}
| <ref>{{cite web |year=2017 |title=Darwin International Airport Master Plan |website=[[Darwin International Airport]] |url=https://www.darwinairport.com.au/sites/default/files/2022-11/dia_2017_master_plan_-_digital_version.pdf }}</ref>
|-
| [[Gold Coast Airport|Gold Coast]]
| {{flag|Queensland}}
| {{yes|Yes (23:00 to 06:00)}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.goldcoastairport.com.au/contact-information/faqs | title=Faq's - Gold Coast Airport }}</ref>
|-
| [[Hobart Airport|Hobart]]
| {{flag|Tasmania}}
| {{no|No}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://hobartairport.com.au/corporate/about-us/ | title=About us |website=[[Hobart Airport]] }}</ref>
|-
| [[Melbourne Airport|Melbourne]]
| {{flag|Victoria}}
| {{no|No}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.melbourneairport.com.au/corporate/airlines# | title=Airlines |website=[[Melbourne Airport]] }}</ref>
|-
| [[Newcastle Airport, New South Wales|Newcastle]]
| {{flag|New South Wales}}
| {{yes|Yes (22:00 to 06:00)}}
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newcastleairport.com.au/flights/itinerant-aircraft/ | title=Newcastle Airport &#124; Itinerant aircraft }}</ref>
|-
| [[Perth Airport|Perth]]
| {{flag|Western Australia}}
| {{no|No}}
| Curfew previously proposed, rejected multiple times.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://medium.com/@planetalk/perth-airport-does-not-need-a-curfew-and-here-s-why-f67676c94179 | title=Perth Airport does NOT need a curfew — and here's why | date=21 May 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://thewest.com.au/news/aviation/perth-airport-curfew-could-cost-wa-economy-46-billion-ng-b88883687z | title=Airport curfew will damage WA economy | date=2 July 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Perth YPPH Air Traffic Operations |website=Bureau of Meteorology - Australian Government |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/aviation/data/education/reference-card-ypph.pdf }}</ref>
|-
| [[Sunshine Coast Airport|Sunshine Coast]]
| {{flag|Queensland}}
| {{maybe|No}}
| While there is no curfew at Sunshine Coast Airport, approval is required for aircraft to take off or land at the airport from 23:00 and 05:30.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sunshinecoastairport.com.au/corporate/community-and-environment/noise-management/ | title=Managing noise impacts at Sunshine Coast Airport }}</ref>
|-
| [[Sydney Airport|Sydney (Kingsford-Smith)]]
| {{flag|New South Wales}}
| {{yes|Yes (23:00 to 06:00)}}
| Despite being the busiest airport in Oceania and a hub for the Asia-Pacific region, Sydney Airport has a curfew because it is located in the densely populated suburb of [[Mascot, New South Wales|Mascot]].<ref>[https://www.sydneyairport.com.au/info-sheet/opening-hours Opening Hours] [[Sydney Airport]]</ref>
|-
| [[Western Sydney Airport|Western Sydney]]
| {{flag|New South Wales}}
| {{no|No}}
| Western Sydney Airport is currently under construction. However, due to it being located away from densely populated suburbs, it will not have a curfew, unlike Sydney Airport, which does have a curfew.<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-14/western-sydney-aerotropolis-flight-paths-unfair-councils-say/103464184 Western Sydney Aerotropolis flight paths unfair councils say] ''[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]''</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://westernsydney.com.au/faqs | title=FAQs &#124; Western Sydney International Airport }}</ref>
|}

==== New Zealand ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="3" | Curfews at New Zealand international airports
|-
! Airport
! Curfew?
! Notes
|-
|[[Auckland Airport|Auckland]]
| {{no|No}}
| 
|-
|[[Christchurch Airport|Christchurch]]
| {{no|No}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mitigating the Impact of Noise - Christchurch Airport |url=https://www.christchurchairport.co.nz/about-us/sustainability/noise/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=www.christchurchairport.co.nz |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| [[Queenstown Airport|Queenstown]]
| {{yes|Yes (22:00 to 07:00)}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aviation Services & Charges |url=https://www.queenstownairport.co.nz/aviation-services-charges |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Queenstown Airport |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[Wellington Airport|Wellington]]
| {{yes|Yes (00:00 to 06:00)}}
|International arrivals allowed until 01:00.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airport noise |url=https://www.wellingtonairport.co.nz/noise/air-noise/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=www.wellingtonairport.co.nz |language=en-nz}}</ref>
|}

== Environmental and community impact ==
===Health === 
There are several studies examining the relationship between aviation noise at night and its effects on health and quality of life. The UK's ANNE study aims to provide insights into how nighttime aviation noise affects sleep disturbance among residents living near airports. Results from this study are expected to inform future regulations and help mitigate adverse effects on communities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government launches consultation into the next UK night flight regime |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-consultation-into-the-next-uk-night-flight-regime |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Night flight restrictions: Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports from October 2025 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/night-flight-restrictions-heathrow-gatwick-and-stansted-airports-from-october-2025/night-flight-restrictions-heathrow-gatwick-and-stansted-airports-from-october-2025 |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>
===Economy===
While night flights are crucial for maintaining global trade and passenger connectivity, their impact on local communities cannot be overlooked. Stakeholders argue for a balanced approach that considers both economic benefits and the well-being of residents affected by noise pollution. The US government has expressed concerns over potential reductions in night flight operations in Europe, emphasizing the need for a thorough assessment of economic implications.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2024 |title=Night Flight Restrictions at European Airports Impacting Cargo |url=https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/night-flight-restrictions-european-airports-impacting-cargo |access-date=November 17, 2024 |website=www.trade.gov |language=en }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Short-haul flight ban]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070717055137/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/nightflyingrestrictionsathea5940 Night flying restrictions at London airports]
*[http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/environmental/curfews/SydneyAirport/SydneyCurfewBrief.aspx Night flying restrictions at Sydney airport]

[[Category:Aircraft noise]]
[[Category:Aviation law]]
[[Category:Curfews|night]]
[[Category:Night flying]]