GB wins appeal against European Court of Human Rights for night flights
A threat to the operations of air cargo and express carriers was lifted after a landmark court ruling that night flights do not violate the human rights of people living near airports. (7/8/2003)
Great Britain won an appeal against a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in 2001 that flights at London Heathrow between 11:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. had violated the rights of people living under the flight path of the world’s busiest international airport by disturbing their sleep.
The ruling raised fears of bans across Europe that would hit all-cargo airlines and express carriers like DHL, United Parcel Service and FedEx Corp., which mostly fly at night.
The British government argued a ban would have a major impact on its economy and damage its airlines – British Airways estimated the cost of switching flights could have been over $500 million.
The ruling is expected to strengthen the hand of cargo carriers in their confrontation with environmental protesters who have tried to limit night operations at their European distribution hubs. Belgium withdrew plans to impose night flight restrictions at Brussels International airport after DHL, one of its biggest customers, threatened to move its European hub operations and global headquarters to a rival airport.
