Protest against 'harmful' late night Bristol Airport flights


Local residents have come together to stage a protest on the "disruptive" late night flights from Bristol Airport. Residents living near to the airport have said the planes flying over their homes throughout the night are causing a host of medical and mental conditions.

On Friday night, September 13, protesters gathered around the A38 roundabout outside of Bristol Airport. Arriving at 6pm on Friday, the protesters from Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN) wore pyjamas and held banners which said: "Ban night flights so we can sleep".

The protest took place on Friday as part of an international action against late night flights. Around 70 protest groups, representing local residents and neighbours of airports around the world, gathered to stop disruptive flights.

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BAAN member Stephen Clarke said: “We are demonstrating today in solidarity with other residents around the world who are badly affected by night flights. From Bristol to Barcelona and from and from Antwerp to Amsterdam; together we say these damaging and unnecessary night flights should be banned.”

Richard Baxter, also a member of BAAN said: “Various studies have shown that night flights cause a wide range of medical and mental conditions for those who suffer from severely disturbed sleep caused by aircraft noise.”

Protesters have hit out against late night flights from Bristol Airport
Protesters have hit out against late night flights from Bristol Airport -Credit:Richard Baxter/ BAAN


Local resident Racheal Dodds from Dundry who attended the protest with her family said: 'Night flights are really disturbing our sleep as we are right on the night path. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture. So we've gone to bed and are falling asleep and it's just immediately your sleep is disturbed. We need sleep to be well and healthy. We need sleep to be productive, form good communities and be a good neighbour. This is really having a detrimental effect on our lives"

Taking to social media, Eyes On Bristol Airport said in the last three months, there has been 3,000 late night flights, averaging out to roughly 30 every night.

It said: "#BanNightFlights 13th September was International Ban Night Flights day. Groups in 120 countries support this ban. @BristolAirport have flown ~3,000 night flights in the last 3 months alone That's over 30 per night! How can people sleep?".

SomersetLive has reported that while the number of late night flights from Bristol Airport are capped, the locals living in the area feel it is still too many and have taken action against it.

Back in 2022, BAAN took to the High Court the challenge plans proposed by Bristol Airport to expand to 12 million passengers a year. Despite being unsuccessful the group continues their work to challenge the number of disruptive flights.

Ahead of Friday's protest, a spokesperson for Bristol Airport said they were “unsure” how BAAN had arrived at their figures and that the accounting period for the cap on flights was summer – winter 2023/24 and did not follow the calendar year.

The spokesperson said: “For summer 2023 and winter 2023/24 there were 3,806 night flights, which is within the 4,000 limit for this reporting period. From 31 March to 4 August 2024, we have had 1,969 night flights.

“We are aware of the peaceful, organised protest planned on the A38 near the Airport on Friday evening (September 13). The airport operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week under tight noise and environmental controls.

"We work closely with the airlines and North Somerset Council to remain within our consented operating limits and report all night flights and dispensations to North Somerset Council on a monthly basis.”