Italian airlines and airports have objected to a Government decision to re-activate a 1995 law banning non-military night flights at all national airports except Rome Fumicino and Milan Malpensa.
The law comes into effect on 26 July, and imposes a total ban on flights between 23:00 and 06:00, as well as instituting new-noise abatement procedures and fines for non-compliant aircraft. Only Stage 3 aircraft used for postal services, plus emergency and Government flights, are exempt.
Hardest hit will be the express-package carriers, which operate Chapter 2aircraft between well-developed hubs such as Bergamo, near Milan, and Rome -Ciampino. Cargo operations to Sardinia and Sicily will also be affected.
It is understood that the express-package carriers are considering demanding an inquiry by the Italian anti-trust authority, because they say that the new law unfairly favours the Italian (state-owned) postal service, which has signed a contract with Alitalia to carry post and parcels at night.
Criticism is also coming from the airports themselves, which point out that many summer charter flights operate only after 23:00.
Source: Flight International
