Airline CEO suggests passengers vent issues to Wissing, potentially burdening him.
In Berlin's bustling aviation scene, a night flight ban at the main airport, BER, causes quite the commotion. Frequently, planes aiming for BER find themselves a few minutes late, leading to diversions to neighboring airports like Hannover or Leipzig. This predicament is a headache for airlines and their passengers alike. Transport Minister Wissing, however, sees no room for adjustments.
Ryanair, in particular, feels the heat of this regulation. Their CEO, Michael O'Leary, encourages passengers to voice their complaints to Minister Wissing, hoping for reforms in air traffic control. But Wissing's stance remains unchanged.
The transport ministry asserts that night flight regulations are a state matter, with states deciding on appropriate takeoffs and landings times, including tolerance periods. The strictest hours at BER are from midnight to 5 am, when no scheduled or charter flight is permitted.
If a Ryanair flight is delayed and falls within the prohibited hours, the aircraft is diverted to neighboring airports like Hannover, free of night flight bans. Passengers then endure extended journeys by bus, sometimes reaching Berlin around 4 am. This process involves additional costs, organizational effort, and possible compensation for airlines.
Now, let's delve a bit deeper into the reasons behind the night flight ban. The primary objective is to control noise pollution, ensuring local residents' peace during the night. Regulatory compliance is another key factor, as the Federal Administrative Court of Germany upheld the current restrictions after rejecting a lawsuit to extend the ban from 11 pm to 6 am.
Consequently, airlines like Ryanair face flight diversions, passenger disruptions, operational inconveniences, and potential fines violating the regulations. Passengers often grapple with extended travel times and changes in their flight plans, fueling criticism against what they perceive as unnecessary inconvenience.
Travelers on Ryanair flights frequently face lengthy journeys due to the night flight ban at BER, leading to diversions to nearby airports. The strict regulations aim to minimize noise pollution and ensure compliance with the Federal Administrative Court's decisions.
