London Night Ops: What’s Changing This Summer

Night ops around London are a bit of a nightmare for BizAv. Heathrow and Gatwick almost never issue night slots, and Stansted has tightened things this summer with no movements allowed between 2330-0600. Luton is making a small exception with a handful of night movements for quieter aircraft, but availability is extremely limited.

All times shown below are local time!

EGLL/Heathrow & EGKK/Gatwick

Slots for BizAv flights are almost never issued at night, as there is a noise quota system in place between 2300-0700. There might be a few daytime slots available – best bet is to contact a local handler and they will try to sort you out. There’s only one FBO at these airports, both Signature: lhr@signatureflight.co.uk and lgw@signatureflight.co.uk

EGGW/Luton

There’s a small change to night ops this summer. A very limited number of BizAv night movements will be allowed between 2300-0659 from 1 Jun to 30 Sep, but only for quieter aircraft (QC 0.5 or less). Signature Aviation has been given six night movements per month, and Harrods Aviation has four. Requests must be made through the respective FBO as they require manual approval from the airport/slot coordinator. A few different FBOs to choose from:

Signature: ltn@signatureflight.co.uk
Harrods: ltnops@harrodsaviation.com

EGSS/Stansted

BizAv night ops are restricted during the summer period, with no slots available between 2330-0600. This is a change from last summer, when a limited number of night slots were available.

Inflite Jet Centre: operations@inflite.co.uk
Universal: uk@universalaviation.aero
Harrods: stnops@harrodsaviation.com (Harrods operate two FBOs here: The Knightsbridge and The Brompton)

EGLC/London City

Open: 0630-2130 weekdays, 0630-1230 Sat and 1230-2130 Sun. There are slots available between these times. jetcentre@londoncityairport.com are who you need to speak to for handling and slot assistance there.

EGTK/London Oxford

Open: 0630-2230 and up to 2359 on request, seven days a week.

The thing you probably want to know about Oxford is while it takes just over an hour to drive to London, making it the furthest away of all the “London” airports, it also charges much less in handling fees. You can contact the FBO at ops@londonoxfordairport.com

EGLF/Farnborough

Open: 0700-2200 weekdays, 0800-2000 weekends – but no extensions possible. Farnborough is a dedicated business aviation airport and can be contacted at ops@farnboroughairport.com

EGKB/Biggin Hill

Open: 0630-2300 weekdays, 0800-2200 weekends. On UK bank holidays, weekend hours apply. Biggin Hill is one to consider for smaller charter ops. A dedicated BizAv airport, only 12 miles outside of central London, and no slots required. A couple of FBOs to choose from:

Executive Handling: handling@bigginhillairport.com
Jetex: fbo-bqh@jetex.com

EGWU/Northolt

Normally open: Monday to Friday 0800-2000, weekends and public holidays 1000-1700. So not great for night flights, but pretty handy otherwise as Northolt is one of the closest BizAv-accessible airports to central London, as well as the closest airport to Heathrow (8 miles away).

Infrastructure repairs to the control tower are currently underway, but disruption is expected to be minimal. Unlike last summer, no specific summer restrictions are planned while the maintenance works continue.

Bear in mind it’s a dual-use military/civil airport, so you’ll need PPR, but they’re normally quite quick to approve this.

Universal is the FBO here: northolt@universalaviation.aero.

EGMC/Southend

Open daily from 0600-0130. Extensions may be possible until 0230 under special conditions, subject to coordination with the local handler. Operations outside these hours are not permitted.

You can contact London Southend Jet Centre FBO here: ops@londonsjc.com

EGBB/Birmingham

Correct, not a London airport! Just a bonus one for you, because outside of all those listed above, this is probably the next closest airport to London that is open at night. Two FBO options here, both open H24 – but night time ops are available on request and subject to additional out-of-hours fees:

XLR Executive Jet Centre: jetcentre@xlrbirmingham.com
Signature: bhx@signatureflight.co.uk

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London Night Ops: What’s Changing This Summer