Airport asks to boost weekend flights

Farnborough Airport says there will be more noise at weekends, but less throughout the week

Farnborough Airport has asked for permission to increase the number of aircraft take-offs and landings over weekends and public holidays.

In a planning application to Rushmoor Borough Council, the airport's owners asked to increase the number of non-weekday aircraft movements from 8,900 to 13,500 per year.

The airport said the changes would result in more flights and therefore more noise on weekends and public holidays, but in the long term there would be fewer flights and less noise on weekdays.

The airport states that the application is to "continue to meet the forecast demand for flights" and "support the airport's medium-term growth requirements".

The council consulted on a previous application from the airport in 2023, which sought to increase the total number of aircraft movements from 50,000 to 70,000 a year.

Keith Dibble, Rushmoor Borough Council's cabinet member for housing and planning, said: "These are very important proposals, not just for Farnborough and Aldershot residents and businesses, but for the population over a large area. I want to encourage everyone to look closely at the plans and give us their thoughts."

The council said its development management committee is expected to decide on the application in March.