A380 should be used to reduce flights

7:13am Tuesday 18th March 2008

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A GROUP representing those living under major flightpaths in the borough has said a new super-jumbo should be used to reduce the number of flights at Heathrow Airport.

The first Airbus A380 to land at Heathrow is due to touch down at around 3,15pm today.

BAA, the company which operates the airport, has said it hopes the introduction of the aircraft, which can carry more than 850 passengers and is quieter than a Boeing 747, will allow it to increase the number of flights in and out of Heathrow.

Current government regulations prevent an increase in flight numbers, unless noise pollution can be kept to levels measured in 2002.

But John Stewart, chairman of HACAN, said: "If BAA was really concerned about residents under the flightpath, it would use the fact the A380 can carry so many passengers to reduce the number of planes using the airport instead of pushing for a huge increase.

"That way the new technology could benefit local residents.

"Even if the A380 turns out to be a little quieter than the jumbos currently using Heathrow, by no stretch of the imagination will it be a quiet plane. It will still be one of the noisiest beasts in the sky."