TOUGHER charges will be applied to all flights that arrive and depart between 11.30pm and 6am at Heathrow.

The aim is to discourage activity that disrupts communities closest to the airport.

Airlines that operate unscheduled flights within the period will be faced with a bill five times greater than daytime charges.

The action is in response to community feedback on ways to reduce noise impact.

Heathrow Community and Stakeholder Engagement Director Rob Gray said: “It is really important we work with our local communities and airlines to strictly manage noise at Heathrow.

“Since the 1970s, despite a doubling of the number of flights, the population significantly affected by aircraft noise around Heathrow has reduced by around 90%."