Business aircraft access to London Luton and Stansted airports will be constricted at night from June 1 through September 30 due to the removal of ad hoc slots between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. to make way for late arrivals of scheduled airline flights. The British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) has urged the UK government to allocate slots to ensure some access for nonscheduled traffic.
During the summer season, only London Southend Airport and Birmingham International Airport (which is more than 100 miles from the UK capital) will remain open on a 24/7 basis. Farnborough Airport closes at 10 p.m. (8 p.m. on weekends), Biggin Hill closes at 11 p.m. (10 p.m. on weekends), and London Oxford is open until midnight.
The change in slot policy starts on the day London’s Wembley Stadium will host the Champions League soccer final. This is expected to attract significant numbers of business aircraft, including flights from Dortmund, Germany, and Madrid, where the teams vying for the trophy are based.
Biggin Hill Airport told AIN that it is well placed to absorb demand since it does not have to operate with landing slots and has ample parking for aircraft up to the size of a Boeing Business Jet. It also offers a helicopter shuttle service into central London operated by Castle Air.
At Luton Airport, Signature Aviation has temporarily expanded the size of its ramp by accessing some airline stands and will be able to accommodate widebody aircraft. Despite the nighttime restrictions, the company—which also operates an FBO at Gatwick Airport—said it has secured “a healthy amount” of slots for the weekend of the game, with operators advised to plan early for flights.
Universal Aviation, whose main London-area FBO is at Stansted, is encouraging Champions League flight operators to use its facility at Northolt military air base. The Royal Air Force has given permission to extend operating hours for civil movements from 8.00 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 1 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 2.
Northolt, in west London, is the closest airport to Wembley Stadium. “Just plan early because there will be a lot of traffic and competition for services,” said Sean Raftery, managing director of Universal Aviation UK, adding that the summer restrictions mean that overnight stays will be unavoidable for travelers coming to London for the game.
The BBGA is appealing a decision by the UK’s aviation minister not to permit any latitude over the curtailment of ad hoc slots. “Lack of night access represents a huge problem for London,” said BBGA managing director Lindsey Oliver. “London is the only city in Europe where this is happening. Not only does business aviation operate the quietest aircraft flying today, but owners of business aircraft invest huge sums in the UK economy.”
She warned that restrictions will significantly impact the flexibility required by the music, film, and sports industries during their peak season.