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This view could be a thing of the past for Hong Kong travellers to London Heathrow if the third runway is approved. Photo: Reuters

500,000 Hong Kong travellers a year may be affected by proposed night-landing ban at Heathrow

Half a million Hong Kong travellers a year may be affected by a proposed night ban on landing at Heathrow, which could kick in if the British government approves the airport's long-awaited third runway.

Half a million Hong Kong travellers a year may be affected by a proposed night ban on landing at Heathrow, which could kick in if the British government approves the airport's long-awaited third runway.

Four of Hong Kong's eight daily departures to London now land between 11.30pm and 6am.

The proposed ban stems from the planned runway's ability to accommodate the dozens of overnight flights now arriving before 6am - and is meant to make noise pollution in the middle of the night a thing of the past.

However, a third runway, if realised, is still a decade away.

Britain's Airports Commission released its findings on building a new airstrip in southeast England only on Wednesday. "A third runway would create the opportunity to end night flights before 6am," it said. "This opportunity should be taken … There should be a ban."

It said passengers in transit to continental Europe on morning flights could seek alternative connections from rival European or Middle Eastern airports.

Hong Kong tops a list of cities that are set to be affected by the ban. The city alone flies up to 480,755 people overnight to Heathrow a year, amounting to 53 per cent of scheduled seats, day and night. Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are the next two heaviest routes affected.

Of the eight daily direct flights from Hong Kong to London, five are taken up by Cathay Pacific. British Airways flies twice a day, while Virgin Atlantic operates one service.

Cathay said a third runway in Heathrow and Hong Kong presented new flying opportunities, but the construction and operations were still years away.

Five daily flights are not enough for Cathay on a route that is one of its most profitable. Sources at the airline said it was keen to launch a sixth service, but could not obtain landing and take-off slots in London.

A spokeswoman for BA declined to discuss the potential rescheduling of flights.

Virgin Atlantic, supporter of a new runway, said its sole flight from Hong Kong, which arrived before 6am, might need to be rescheduled, but stressed "we will have to wait and see".

Heathrow did not respond to a request for comment on the proposed ban.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Heathrow plan may hit HK flights
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