Campaigners have welcomed a decision to reject Leeds Bradford Airport’s plans for noisier nighttime flights.

Leeds City Council has announced it has rejected Leeds Bradford Airport’s controversial proposal, known as a CLEUD, which would have allowed older and noisier aircraft to operate at night.

The Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) has welcomed the decision and called on the Council to similarly reject the one remaining CLEUD, which would allow unrestricted night flights for the newer aircraft fleets.

Leeds Bradford Airport has called the decision “disappointing” but said it “will not affect future operations”.

GALBA also called for strong enforcement action to be taken against the airport for its breach of the nighttime flying rules in the 2023 and 2024 summer seasons.

Nick Hodgkinson, chair of GALBA, said: “We’re delighted that Leeds City Council has rejected LBA’s attempts to fly noisier aircraft at night.

“We were always confident that this was the only lawful and responsible decision they could make.

“It’s also the only decision that was in keeping with the purpose of the rules – to protect public health by putting a limit on night flights. ”

“We now look forward to the Council rejecting the one remaining CLEUD and taking strong enforcement action against LBA because they have exceeded the number of permitted night flights for three years running”.

“After LBA broke the rules in summer 2022, the Council issued a ‘breach of condition’ notice, warning that a further breach could result in criminal prosecution.

“LBA broke those rules again in 2023 but the Council took no action. GALBA can reveal that LBA is on course to break the 2024 limit with days, and with nearly two months left of the summer season.

“We now expect the Council to take that action because LBA’s bosses have shown by their actions that they simply don’t care about the rules and cannot be trusted.”

“There’s no such thing as a ‘quiet’ passenger jet and there’s no such thing as ‘clean’ jet fuel. Every extra night flight means more harm to people’s health and more pollution, damaging our climate and the air we breathe.

“GALBA congratulates Leeds City Council for making a responsible decision that puts its residents and our environment first.”

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Vincent Hodder, CEO of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “We’re disappointed with this decision but remain confident in our legal understanding of the planning conditions “We will be considering what this decision means for the airport and the appropriate next steps.

“This will ensure that Leeds Bradford Airport can serve the Yorkshire region appropriately, operating a compliant schedule of flights with its airline partners.

“To reassure our passengers, the decision will not affect current scheduled flights and given it relates to older, noisier aircraft which LBA already has a penalty scheme in place to prohibit flying in the night time period, the decision will not affect future operations.”