Loading
19-Apr-2012 10:53 AM

airberlin criticises ban on night flights at Cologne/Bonn

airberlin CEO Hartmut Mehdorn has strongly criticised (18-Apr-2012) the decision taken by the State Government of North Rhine Westphalia to ban night flights at Cologne/Bonn Airport between 00:00 and 05:00 (delayed landings will be tolerated until 00:30), affecting around 6000 annual landings/takeoffs, according to dpa and aero.de reports. Mr Mehdorn said, "This is the wrong decision, taken at the wrong time," adding, "Claiming, as the NRW cabinet decision suggests, that the level of noise caused by cargo planes is acceptable but the noise caused by passenger planes, which are quieter is not shows a naive attitude to noise control". He noted that as result of the pressure caused by aviation tax, airberlin was already forced to reduce services from the airport in 2011, adding the "tourist market would be hit once again by the introduction of a ban on night flights". In summer 2012, this would affect 28 weekly services for airberlin including 26 departures and two arrivals. Mr Mehdorn requested Federal Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer not to authorise the ban on night flights in Cologne/Bonn. [more - original PR]

Want More News Like This?

CAPA Membership provides access to all news and analysis on the site, along with access to many areas of our comprehensive databases and toolsets.
Find Out More