The real cost of night flight ban
November 3, 2011
The decision by a German court to ban night flights will come at a high economic and environmental price, the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has warned.
We previously how a temporary ban on night flights at Frankfurt Airport would cost Lufthansa, Germany’s dominant cargo carrier, millions.
The administrative supreme court of Hesse scheduled the ban to start this week, coinciding with the start of the winter schedule, sparking anger from carriers at the lack of time in which to alter internationally agreed timetables.
Another, more senior, court in Leipzig will make a final ruling on the long-lasting legal dispute.
TIACA Chairman Michael Steen, said: “Banning night flights has wide-ranging consequences. “It means a negative impact not only on airlines, but shippers and all the businesses and consumers linked to the shipments.
“It also results in flights being re-routed over longer distances or flown at different times which can lead to greater congestion and emissions during daytime hours.”
TIACA pointed out that night-flights were often the best or only way for cargo flights to perform their vital role as a crucial component of global supply chains.
Steen added: “It is very easy for courts to impose restrictions on airport operations, but they fail to take into account the economic importance air cargo operations bring to airports and their local business communities.
“At airports around the world, all-cargo operations are often forced to fly night-time operations because of slot restrictions that have been steadily increased over the years, particularly as passenger flights are usually given preference ahead of freighter services.
“The air cargo supply chain has adapted to cope with these changes, but now faces a situation where all-cargo operations could be effectively forced away from major airports.”
He also said it was wrong to assume that it is only the air sector that felt the pain.
“Air cargo traffic, for example, is already moving away from Frankfurt as a result of the court’s decision, and you have to assume this will affect employment at the airport and in businesses in the surrounding areas,” said Steen.
The Hesse decision would also add to the cost of goods for businesses in the Frankfurt area as they would now have to be trucked into the city from other airports that allowed night flights.
“This cost will have to be borne by companies and their customers. Airport regulators around the world need to consider all these factors if they are faced with having to review the overall impact of night flights,” he said.
