by Don Mort, local democracy reporter
Airport bosses could made a fresh bid to change the rules on night-time flights in and out of the city.
Leeds-Bradford Airport (LBA) has sent early-stage proposals to the council which would replace the existing restrictions.
LBA has been in a long-standing dispute with airport campaigners who say overnight flights are damaging the environment and disturbing people living nearby.
The Group for Action on Leeds-Bradford Airport (GALBA) said an existing cap on night flights could be replaced with an annual “noise quota count”.
The period officially classed as night time, when restrictions apply, would also be reduced by 90 minutes to 11.30pm-6am.
GALBA has claimed it would lead to thousands more overnight flights.
Chairman Nick Hodgkinson said: “Having failed several times before, the airport once again wants to change the night flight rules.
“It’s all about flying more and more planes at night, which means more noise and more pollution.”
LBA previously appealed against a council decision to restrict some aircraft from flying after 11pm.
A public inquiry dismissed two of three planning appeals lodged by the airport in a decision published in July.
LBA confirmed it had sent the council a briefing document on a possible section 73 planning application.
It said the proposals would encourage the use of cleaner and quieter planes.
The briefing note said: “These restrictions are over 30 years old and are therefore significantly outdated, presenting no incentive for airlines to modernise their aircraft fleets.”
Airport bosses stressed that the document did not represent finalised proposals.
A spokesperson said amending conditions on the existing planning permission would bring it into line with Civil Aviation Authority guidelines.
They said: “The final form of such an application has not yet been determined and LBA will continue to engage with Leeds City Council to structure a set of limits that promotes the deployment of quieter, more fuel efficient aircraft to support the future growth of our local airport.”
The council confirmed it received the briefing note but said it was inappropriate to comment on a future planning application.
A council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the issues which have been raised by GALBA.
“It should be noted that existing planning permits the airport to operate on a 24-hour basis within carefully defined limits.”
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Hope ” Our Rachel” will continue the push for growth and allow LBA to have 24 hour operating and get the annual passenger numbers towards 10 million
The council previously approved the change in operating hours when they gave planning permission for the new terminal, which the airport then did not build, so to reject it this time would make the council look stupid
The airport can also currently fly as many propeller planes as it want in the night as the are not counted towards the night quota. Which as the airport says is outdated, the newer planes the airbus neo family and Boeing max family are actually quieter than the allowed propeller planes so I don’t see what the issue is apart from a group tha loan all the time