The Government sets the noise limits on departing aircraft and gives Heathrow the power to set and issue fines for breaches of those limits.
Noise is measured at fixed monitors around Heathrow. Departures are continually monitored and if an aircraft creates more noise than is allowed, the airline is fined. As part of Heathrow's Noise Action Plan 2019-2023, we have committed to publishing the total and individual fines levied on airlines for night time and day time noise limit infringements each year. Below is a list of noise fines as well as a table showing how Heathrow calculates fines.
The Government also requires Heathrow to direct all money raised from departure noise infringements to community funds. In accordance with our Noise Action Plan we will continue to direct this money to the Heathrow Community Trust (HCT), an independent grant-making charity, to distribute to community projects in the Heathrow airport area. More information on the Heathrow Community Trust can be found here. This site includes an interactive map displaying all community projects funded by the HCT in recent years. We will continue to update this map as new projects are funded.
The Noise Action Plan sets out how Heathrow plans to manage and reduce the impact of aircraft noise over a five-year period. It goes beyond the requirement of European legislation by considering actions which will manage ground and air noise for all those communities affected. The Noise Action Plan can be found here.
