In a statement, ZERO - Sustainable Ground System Association states that there is “widespread non-compliance” with the early morning air traffic limits provided for in the “exception regime” in force since 2004, which allows for 26 daily flights to take off and land between midnight and 6am.

According to the association, not only have the limits been exceeded, but complaints have been registered from residents of Lisbon, Loures and other neighbouring municipalities at Humberto Delgado Airport about the noise of aircraft and difficulty in sleeping.


ZERO believes that the “exception regime” should be repealed “to ensure that people are resting, especially at night”, and that the measure will enter into force in April 2020 when “new daylight saving time is applied”.


The reduction in noise during the daytime “should be considered in a second phase”, adds the association, noting that the population of Lisbon “is exposed to much higher noise levels” than the values recommended by the World Health Organization.


In the statement, ZERO said it was awaiting responses to a complaint lodged with the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) and that the Inspectorate General of the Environment confirmed in a surveillance action this year that it had “violated the night flight exception regime”.


The newspaper Público reported, citing an official source from ANAC, that the regulator has filed several administrative offenses against carriers that have exceeded the noise levels permitted by law at Humberto Delgado Airport.


In the same statement, ZERO announced that it will send letters to the mayors of Lisbon and Loures to “try to understand” whether or not they agree with the end of the flight exception regime.