Birmingham Airport is keeping to the number of night time flights allowed in and out at night, councillors on a new committee heard. 

BHX bosses successfully applied to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council for an increase after arguing extra night flights were necessary if the airport is to grow and the local economy is not to miss out on millions in economic benefits.

In January Solihull planners agreed to an increase from 5 per cent to 7.3 per cent in flights arriving or leaving between 11.30pm and 6am – thought to average around 21 flights a night.

But there had been widespread opposition from residents who said peaceful nights were "already becoming a distant memory".

In response to concerns it was proposed a new sub-committee of the authority's planning committee – described as a 'critical friend' – would monitor, assess and understand the performance of the night flying policy as it evolves over time.

This has now been set up with the first meeting held in June. 

Meetings are not held in public but minutes from the meeting are reported back to Solihull Council's planning committee.

Those first minutes includes airport data, from the period between October 2024 and May 2025, shared at the meeting which shows:

• Autumn and winter were quieter months – the full night flying capacity not being used in these months 
• Capacity was carried forward to the spring and summer months where the number of flights were higher
• The number of night flights "have not exceeded levels identified in the policy over the period considered"
• There is "no indication that levels will be exceeded at this time"

Birmingham Airport's boss Ed Bastian had also recently revealed he is in discussions with several airlines over reintroducing direct routes to the US after Delta Airlines – a Birmingham City Football Club major sponsor – hinted its interest.

The minutes show the group discussed the airport's marketing plans and business opportunities – specifically in relation to adding long haul flights.

 "The airport confirmed that long haul flights are dependent upon global connections and normally operate in daytime hours," the minutes said.

"Councillors expressed the need to continue monitoring the impact on residents from the noise generated by night flights and the importance of receiving credible data."

The next meeting is scheduled to be held in September with the minutes then set to be shared at a planning committee meeting in the autumn.