CIERRE NOCTURNO FRANKFURT: MISIÓN CUMPLIDA

El activismo vecinal en contra del ruido nocturno de los aviones ha logrado una importante y definitiva victoria en Alemania con la prohibición de las operaciones nocturnas en el Aeropuerto de Frankfurt.

Adjuntamos la nota de prensa distribuida por UECNA (Union Européenne Contra les Nuisances des Avions) informando al respecto.

Press Release 4/4/12

Frankfurt Campaigners win Night Flight Ban

“I suspect this ruling has brought a Heathrow night flight ban a step closer”

The campaigners at Frankfurt Airport have won a night flight ban after the German courts today ruled in their favour (1). Flights will be banned from 11pm until 5am. It is thought the ruling could have implications for night flights at other European airports. Both Charles de Gaulle and Schiphol airports, where flights operate through the night, have been watching the ruling closely.

The German decision could also influence the situation at Heathrow where the Government will begin consulting later this year on plans for a new night flight regime after the current agreement with the airlines runs out in 2014. At present, no night flights are allowed at Heathrow between 11.30pm and about 4.15am but the Government is under pressure to introduce a ban from 11pm until 6am.

John Stewart, Chair of HACAN, which represents residents under the Heathrow flight paths, said: “This is a very significant ruling which could have implications for airports across Europe, including Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick. Critically, the German court rejected arguments by Lufthanza that its business would be damaged by a night flight ban. This is the same argument that has been made by BAA and British Airways to justify night flights at Heathrow. I suspect this ruling has brought a Heathrow night flight ban a step closer”.

The night ban at Frankfurt is only one of the demands of the German protesters, thousands of whom occupy the airport terminal every Monday night (2). They are objecting about the impact of the 4th runway which was opened in October. The night flight ban will apply to all the airport’s runways.

ENDS

(1). For the full story: http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/bre8330bd-us-frankfurt-nightflights/

LEIPZIG/FRANKFURT, Apr. 4, 2012 (Reuters) — A German court on Wednesday ruled in favor of a night flight ban at Frankfurt airport, Europe's third busiest, dealing a blow to German flagship airline Lufthansa and airport operator Fraport.

File photo of a Lufthansa airplane landing at Frankfurt Airport December 9, 2010. REUTERS/Alex Domanski

Lufthansa says it needs night flights at the airport so its cargo operations can compete with fast-growing Gulf airports and has warned the freight unit's future investment plans of up to 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) rest on the decision.

After the local government said in 2009 it would allow 17 flights between 11 pm and 5am local time from the end of October 2011 on economic grounds, residents under the flight paths took the case to court.
Their complaint was upheld in October by a local court just ahead of the opening of the Fraport operated airport's fourth runway, drawing howls of protest from airlines.

On Wednesday, the judge at a higher court in Leipzig confirmed the ban and said the federal state of Hesse must make a new decision on whether to allow night flights. He cautioned, however, that there was little room for maneuver.

Lufthansa shares fell 2.4 percent while Fraport was down 1.1 percent.

At a hearing last month, the judge had indicated mistakes had been made in the approval process for the new runway, under which a mediator proposed a night flight ban, before the local government unilaterally decided to allow 17 flights.

Since the temporary ban was implemented, regular Monday protests at the airport have also seen up to 5,000 people calling for the ban to be extended by two hours each night and for the new runway to be shut down.

(2). Pictures from the protest this week (Monday 2nd April):
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.249227888507015.54981.210719355691202&type=1


Como se indica en la nota de prensa, los residentes afectados por el ruido nocturno del Aeropuerto de Londres-Heathrow y otros aeropuertos a lo largo y ancho de Europa, han recibido con alivio, entusiasmo y esperanza la decisión de la justicia germana. La Unión Europea debería legislar al respecto a favor de las personas y contemplar una prohibición generalizada de las operaciones nocturnas en los aeropuertos europeos, con la excepción de los casos de necesidad extrema, como pueden ser, por ejemplo, los vuelos especiales para misiones humanitarias.

AENA debería tomar nota y no demorar lo que ocurrirá, esperamos, más temprano que tarde, y es no operar vuelos programados en horario nocturno (de 23:00 a 7:00) en los aeropuertos en los que haya vecinos afectados por el ruido, empezando por el Aeropuerto de Madrid-Barajas.

¡Que actúe el gobierno de España ya!, y no tengan que ser, una vez más, los alemanes, británicos o franceses los que vengan a poner orden en nuestra casa.