Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to reduce flight path concentration over the London borough of Southwark.

Airports are responsible for the specific arrangements for low-level flightpaths. All proposals to alter these arrangements must follow the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) airspace change process which was revised in 2018, following the publication by the Department of revised air navigation guidance.

This guidance requires airports who are seeking to make alterations to their flightpath arrangements to consult with those communities who may be affected by the proposed changes.

A key requirement set out in the guidance is the need for airspace change sponsors to consider the use of multiple flightpaths to disperse air traffic, as well as undertaking a full assessment of the airspace options they are considering.

The Government continues to encourage airports to work with their local communities to identify possible options that may reduce the overall adverse health impacts arising from aircraft noise.