New Heathrow flights to 'disturb millions'

LONDON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- London's Heathrow Airport is considering new flight paths, a move one official said would "disturb millions of people."

Officials said in a National Air Traffic Services report that Heathrow may alter its flight paths to allow an additional 60,000 aircraft to use the arport each year, The Times of London said Monday.

The altered flight paths could be implemented by 2010 and could affect the lives of individuals living within 30 miles of Heathrow, observers say.

The alterations include moving the approach points for incoming aircraft an additional eight miles away from the airport and altering the turning points used for planes on final approach.

At least one official has questioned how much the public knows of the planned alterations, accusing the Department of Transportation of keeping the news hidden amid other travel news.

"The Department for Transport has buried the bad news about new flight paths, which will disturb millions of people living in outer London and the home counties," said ClearSkies Chairman John Stewart, whose group represents people living under existing Heathrow flight paths.