Hamburg, January 23 – Hamburg Airport experienced a significant reduction in flights operating after 11 PM last year, with approximately 760 take-offs and landings occurring between 11 PM and midnight. This represents a 20% decrease compared to 2024, as revealed in an evaluation published on Thursday by the flight noise protection officer. Additionally, flights delayed past midnight also saw a decline, from 41 to 26.
New Fee Structure Contributes to Reduction
Katharina Fegebank (Greens), Senator for Environment, hailed the current figures as positive news for residents living near the airport. According to the environmental authority, a key factor behind this trend is the new fee structure implemented last spring. This regulation significantly increases costs for airlines operating delayed flights, prompting them to adjust their schedules. Fegebank emphasized that the goal remains to minimize the burden on the surrounding community.
Residents Demand Earlier Focus on Noise Reduction
However, Martin Mosel, chairman of the environmental association BIG-Fluglärm, expressed a differing view. While acknowledging a slight decrease in noise compared to 2024, Mosel highlighted a concerning trend: the number of flights after 10 PM has increased by approximately one-fifth since 2019. He argued that noise is shifting from daytime to nighttime, and that the night period effectively begins at 10 PM, not 11 PM.
Night Flight Restrictions and Exceptions
Night flight restrictions are in place at Hamburg Airport between 11 PM and 6 AM. Flights are permitted to take off and land until midnight only if the delay is unavoidable, with airlines incurring surcharges. Between midnight and 6 AM, only flights with prior, paid special permits are allowed.
Increase in Night Flights This Year
Despite the overall reduction last year, data for the current year indicates an increase in late-night flights. By the end of May, approximately 200 aircraft had taken off or landed between 11 PM and midnight, which is about 25 more than in the same period last year.
This topic was also featured on NDR Fernsehen’s Hamburg Journal at 6:00 PM on January 22, 2026.
Source: NDR.de
