Night Flights Requested at Southampton

A request from Royal Mail to use Southampton Airport for a night flight is to be considered by the Eastleigh Local Area Committee at its meeting next Tuesday 17 June.

The Airport, is within the Borough of Eastleigh and the Borough Council has a Flying Controls Agreement in place that restricts night flying into and out of Southampton Airport.

Royal Mail currently operate a mail flight into Bournemouth every weekday at 2.30am.  However that airport will not be available to them for the night flight from July until February 2009 while runway work is undertaken.  Royal Mail is therefore asking for the Flying Controls agreement to be relaxed at Southampton to allow their late night flight to operate into the airport.

Council Leader Keith House commented “The Council has a long established agreement with BAA Southampton which restricts the number of aircraft movements at the airport.  It also provides protection against unreasonable levels of noise nuisance for the local community.  Royal Mail has already been told informally that the Council is unlikely to agree to this request given the need to protect the interests of local people but Eastleigh Local Area Committee will now formally consider a response to the mail company.”