GRAEME SMITH - February 18 2005 - (Shortened version)
A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to allow round-the-clock flights in and out of Aberdeen airport took a major step forward yesterday.
Aberdeen City Council's planning committee approved the application by BAA which would make all three of its Scottish airports – Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen – 24-hour operations.
However, because more than three councillors opposed the application, the final decision will now be made by all 43 councillors at the next full council meeting on March 2.
At the moment fixed-wing flights, scheduled to take off or land before 10.30pm, are allowed to take off until 11pm and land until 11.30pm.
Business leaders say that it is vital for the economy to keep the airport open around the clock and of the 202 letters relating to the new application 108 are in favour and 94 against.
"Time has moved in since the late 1970s when these archaic hours were approved."
He said 94 objections from a region with a population of 500,000 was not a lot.
Source:-Copyright © 2005 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited. All Rights Reserved
Cheers,
White Cap
