Hopes tougher restrictions on Gatwick airport night flights could come into force later this year have been dashed.

Aviation minister Karen Buck said yesterday the Government had run out of time to implement a new night flying regime from the end of October, as planned. Further restrictions will not now be introduced before October next year, she added.

The setback has been caused by delays to a consultation on noise and weight limits on aircraft using Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted airports.

The noisiest aircraft are already banned from taking off or landing at Gatwick between 11pm and 7am. But the Government is considering whether to ban another quieter category of planes.

A first consultation paper was announced last June and the second is being published today - behind schedule.

In a Parliamentary written statement yesterday, Ms Buck said: "It was not possible to publish the second stage consultation paper in time to enable us to have a new regime in place by October 30 this year."

The first consultation paper covered the classifications of aircraft for night restrictions purposes.

The second will cover plans for potentially altering the length of the night period, the size of the noise quotas and limits on movements.

Interested parties are being invited to respond to the second paper within the next 14 weeks. Ms Buck added: "To allow time for the consultation process and analysis of responses, the present night restrictions regime will continue for a further year from October 30, 2005 until October 29, 2006.

During that year we propose the current regime should continue unchanged."

The new restrictions will be in effect until the summer of 2012. By then, the Government will be better able to review the position following the plans to expand Heathrow and Stansted. The consultation document will be available on the internet at www.aviation.dft.gov.uk
June 10, 2005