An MP from the Center party, Christina Meissner, has proposed a motion to ban flights from Geneva airport between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Meissner has been very committed to the issue of night flights, and she believes that international studies show that night flight noise has serious consequences for health and quality of life. Currently, there is no uniform ban on night flights for Swiss airports, with Zurich banning flights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., while Geneva has restrictions on commercial movements between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. However, Meissner hopes that the Grand Council will support her motion to strictly limit night flights at Geneva airport.
An MP wants to ban flights from 10 p.m. at the airport
The proposal is not new, but the elected representative of the Center, Christina Meissner, tabled a motion to put an end to night planes at Cointrin.
Christina Meissner (The Center) filed a motion to limit air traffic between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
PIERRE ALBOUY
During a recent debate organized in Versoix by the “Tribune de Genève”, four candidates for the Council of State, Delphine Bachmann (Le Centre), Fabienne Fischer (Les Verts), Anne Hiltpold (PLR) and Thierry Apothéloz (PS) , were in favor of limiting take-off and landing times to 10 p.m. at Genève Aéroport.
“I am for, with the exception of delayed flights,” says Anne Hiltpold. “The taxation of latecomers will not change anything, reacts Thierry Apothéloz. We must impose a strict schedule, otherwise the wealthy companies will continue to land their planes in Geneva, regardless of the time. It’s necessary? We will therefore expect the new Council of State to do the forcing…
For the time being, it was enough for the Center MP Christina Meissner, present at this debate and very committed to the issue, to table a motion entitled “For a strict limitation of night flights”. And to invite the next elected officials to intervene with all the competent authorities in order to completely prohibit the movement of commercial business and private aircraft at Geneva airport between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., in case of emergency, flight state or humanitarian excepted.
The Zurich example
“Night flight noise has serious consequences for health and quality of life. International studies have shown that myocardial infarctions and cerebrovascular accidents are much more frequent around airports than in areas protected from the noise of air traffic, notes the mover. A sound level above 50 decibels leads to wakefulness reactions and prevents deep sleep, and therefore nocturnal rest.
It is often economic arguments that are opposed to banning night flights. However, the experience of other European countries shows that these fears are unfounded, believes Christina Meissner: “In these countries, the experience has even turned out to be positive, both from the point of view of the population and that of airport operations. The noise of night flights generates significant external costs, due to building bans, the reduction in the value of real estate and damage to health.
“This unequal treatment harms the populations of our region who have not failed to bring their voice to our parliament on many occasions so that the Airport respects their sleep. In vain.”
Night flight restrictions (curfew), governed since 2002 by a regulation of the European Parliament, are applied in 126 European airports. In Switzerland, there is no uniform ban on night flights for national airports. In Zurich, the ban runs from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (with an exemption until 11:30 p.m. for delayed flights) while in Geneva the airport is permanently open with restrictions for commercial movements between 10 p.m. and 6 hours, which must first be submitted to the operator for approval.
“This unequal treatment harms the populations of our region who have not failed to bring their voice to our parliament on many occasions so that the Airport respects their sleep. In vain”, deplores the mover. Who therefore hopes that the Grand Council will support his motion.
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In conclusion, the proposal to ban flights from 10 p.m. at Geneva Airport is gaining momentum, with several candidates for the Council of State expressing their support for the idea. The mover of the motion, Christina Meissner, believes that the negative impact of night flights on health and quality of life outweigh any economic benefits that may be gained from allowing them. As she awaits the response of the Grand Council to her motion, it remains to be seen whether Geneva Airport will follow the example of other European airports and introduce a strict night flight curfew.