On 10th June 2026, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Department for Transport (DfT) published two significant reports on aircraft noise, both of which point to growing public sensitivity to aviation noise and the need for stronger policy responses.
The CAA’s Aviation Noise Attitudes Survey 2023–24 (ANAS) found that attitudes to aircraft noise have shifted, with communities showing increased sensitivity to its impacts. The findings suggest that further work is needed to address the growing concern around aviation noise exposure.
CAGNE, the umbrella aviation community and environment group for Sussex, Surrey and Kent, said:
“We hope this report will be taken seriously when considering the imbalance we currently see in airport expansion, where mitigation is too often treated as a magic wand to remove noise impacts when clearly it does not.”
The DfT has also released the first part of Aviation Night Noise Effects (ANNE), with the second phase expected by the end of 2026. Its initial findings again point to increasing sensitivity to aircraft noise, particularly during night-time hours when disruption can have serious consequences for health and wellbeing.
“We continue to call for a night-flight ban, as sleep disturbance affects not only health but also the productivity and well-being of those trying to rest. What is particularly striking is that disturbance appears to increase from 4am, which suggests people are in a lighter stage of sleep. In Gatwick’s case, early morning departures are clearly becoming an increasing problem.“
ANAS – https://www.caa.co.uk/environmental-sustainability/aviation-noise-attitudessurvey/
ANNE – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/aviation-night-noise-effectsanne-study
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