Residents and environmentalists demand a ban on night flights in Palma.
They claim it poses a health risk to the nearly 20,000 residents in the area.
PalmThe Platform Against the Expansion of Palma Airport and several neighborhood and environmental associations demanded this Saturday a ban on night flights to Son Sant Joan as part of the International Day to End These Operations, promoted by the European network Stay Grounded.
In a statement, the organizations demanded that flights be banned between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM to guarantee the right to rest of the 18,884 residents of areas near the airport, such as Coll d'en Rabassa, Can Pastilla, Sant Jordi, and the Casa Blanca. They argued that the constant noise generates health problems linked to cardiovascular disease, stress, diabetes, and cognitive difficulties, especially in children.
These groups noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends not exceeding 40 decibels at night, while the European Union sets the limit at 55, and that studies around Frankfurt Airport have found more than 2,000 hospital admissions due to traffic and hundreds of deaths.
They also emphasized that night flights are "unnecessary and avoidable" and that they lead to an increase in overcrowding and associated pollution. Along these lines, the associations also criticize the fact that the opening of new routes, such as the Palma-Montreal connection, exacerbates these inconveniences for residents and tourists staying near the airport.
Therefore, they have called for following the example of other countries and establishing clear regulations that prioritize the health and rest of citizens over the airline industry.
