Traffic Distribution Rules 1991
Under the Traffic Distribution Rules 1991 whole plane cargo services or general or business aviation cannot be operated at Heathrow or Gatwick airports during periods of peak congestion declared for each scheduling season, without permission from the airport operator.
The periods of peak congestion
The Civil Aviation Authority, in exercise of its powers under the above Rules and having consulted Heathrow Airport Ltd, Gatwick Airport Limited, and Airport Coordination Ltd defined and published the hours of peak congestion at Heathrow and Gatwick airports for the purposes of the above Rules are as specified below. All times are UTC.
All times are UTC
London Heathrow Airport
Arrivals
| Monday |
0600-1955 |
2100-2255 |
|
| Tuesday |
0600-1455 |
1600-1955 |
2200-2255 |
| Wednesday |
0600-1855 |
2100-2255 |
|
| Thursday |
0600-1655 |
1800-1855 |
2100-2255 |
| Friday |
0600-2255 |
|
|
| Saturday |
0600-1655 |
1800-1855 |
|
| Sunday |
0600-1855 |
2000-2255 |
|
Departures
| Monday |
0600-1655 |
1800-2055 |
2200-2255 |
|
|
| Tuesday |
0600-0655 |
0800-1555 |
1800-1855 |
2000-2055 |
2200-2255 |
| Wednesday |
0600-0655 |
0800-1455 |
1600-1655 |
1800-2055 |
2200-2255 |
| Thursday |
0600-1855 |
2000-2055 |
2200-2255 |
|
|
| Friday |
0600-2155 |
|
|
|
|
| Saturday |
0600-0655 |
0800-1655 |
1800-1855 |
|
|
| Sunday |
0800-2055 |
|
|
|
|
London Gatwick Airport
From 0000 on 1 December 2024 until 2359 on 30 March 2025
Arrivals & Departures
| Monday |
0600-0655 |
0800-1055 |
1200-1455 |
|
|
| Tuesday |
0800-0855 |
1000-1055 |
|
|
|
| Wednesday |
0800-0855 |
|
|
|
|
| Thursday |
0800-0855 |
1000-1055 |
1300-1655 |
|
|
| Friday |
0600-0855 |
1000-1055 |
1200-1855 |
2000-2055 |
2200-2255 |
| Saturday |
0700-0755 |
0900-0955 |
1100-1155 |
1400-1555 |
2000-2055 |
| Sunday |
0800-0855 |
1200-1655 |
1900-2055 |
|
|
All times are UTC
London Heathrow Airport
Arrivals
| Monday |
0500-1655 |
1800-2155 |
|
|
| Tuesday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Wednesday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Thursday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Friday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Saturday |
0500-1155 |
1300-1455 |
1900-1955 |
2100-2155 |
| Sunday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
Departures
| Monday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Tuesday |
0500-2055 |
|
|
|
| Wednesday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Thursday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Friday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Saturday |
0500-1455 |
2000-2155 |
|
|
| Sunday |
0500-0555 |
0700-1755 |
1900-2155 |
|
London Gatwick Airport
Arrivals & Departures
| Monday |
0500-1055 |
1200-1255 |
1400-1455 |
1600-1655 |
| Tuesday |
0500-0855 |
1200-1255 |
1900-1955 |
|
| Wednesday |
0500-0855 |
1200-1255 |
1400-1455 |
|
| Thursday |
0500-0955 |
1100-1155 |
1300-1555 |
1800-1855 |
| Friday |
0500-0855 |
1000-1055 |
1200-1355 |
1500-1955 |
| Saturday |
0500-1255 |
1400-1455 |
|
|
| Sunday |
0500-0655 |
0800-0855 |
1000-1055 |
1200-1855 |
All times are UTC
London Heathrow Airport
Arrivals
| Monday |
0600-1955 |
2100-2255 |
|
|
| Tuesday |
0600-1855 |
2200-2255 |
|
|
| Wednesday |
0600-2055 |
2200-2255 |
|
|
| Thursday |
0600-1855 |
2000-2055 |
2200-2255 |
|
| Friday |
0600-1955 |
2100-2255 |
|
|
| Saturday |
0600-1555 |
1700-1755 |
|
|
| Sunday |
0600-1655 |
1800-1855 |
2000-2255 |
|
Departures
| Monday |
0600-2055 |
2200-2255 |
|
|
| Tuesday |
0600-1655 |
1800-1855 |
2200-2255 |
|
| Wednesday |
0600-1855 |
2200-2255 |
|
|
| Thursday |
0600-1755 |
2000-2055 |
2200-2255 |
|
| Friday |
0600-2155 |
|
|
|
| Saturday |
0600-1455 |
1600-1655 |
|
|
| Sunday |
0800-2055 |
|
|
|
London Gatwick Airport
Arrivals & Departures
| Monday |
0700-1055 |
1200-1255 |
|
|
|
| Tuesday |
0700-0855 |
|
|
|
|
| Wednesday |
0700-0855 |
|
|
|
|
| Thursday |
0700-0855 |
|
|
|
|
| Friday |
0600-1055 |
1200-1555 |
1700-1755 |
2000-2055 |
2200-2255 |
| Saturday |
0600-0755 |
0900-0955 |
1300-1455 |
1600-1655 |
|
| Sunday |
0600-1055 |
1200-1355 |
1500-1655 |
|
|
All times are UTC
London Heathrow Airport
Arrivals
| Monday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Tuesday |
0500-1455 |
1600-2155 |
|
|
| Wednesday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Thursday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Friday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Saturday |
0500-1455 |
1900-1955 |
2100-2155 |
|
| Sunday |
0500-0955 |
1100-2155 |
|
|
Departures
| Monday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Tuesday |
0500-1355 |
|
|
|
| Wednesday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Thursday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Friday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Saturday |
0500-0955 |
1100-1455 |
2100-2155 |
|
| Sunday |
0500-0555 |
0800-2055 |
|
|
London Gatwick Airport
Arrivals & Departures
| Monday |
0600-1955 |
|
|
| Tuesday |
0500-1955 |
|
|
| Wednesday |
0500-1955 |
2100-2155 |
|
| Thursday |
0500-1155 |
1300-1955 |
|
| Friday |
0600-1955 |
2100-2255 |
|
| Saturday |
0600-1555 |
|
|
| Sunday |
0500-0555 |
0700-2055 |
2200-2255 |
All times are UTC.
London Heathrow Airport
Arrivals
| Monday |
0600-1855 |
2100-2255 |
|
| Tuesday |
0600-1355 |
1500-1955 |
2200-2255 |
| Wednesday |
0600-1955 |
2200-2255 |
|
| Thursday |
0600-1555 |
1700-1955 |
2200-2255 |
| Friday |
0600-2255 |
|
|
| Saturday |
0600-1455 |
|
|
| Sunday |
0600-1655 |
1800-1955 |
2200-2255 |
Departures
| Monday |
0600-1555 |
1700-2055 |
|
| Tuesday |
0600-0655 |
0800-1655 |
1800-1955 |
| Wednesday |
0600-0655 |
0800-1655 |
1800-1955 |
| Thursday |
0600-1655 |
1800-2055 |
2200-2255 |
| Friday |
0600-2155 |
|
|
| Saturday |
0600-0655 |
0900-1455 |
1600-1755 |
| Sunday |
0800-2155 |
|
|
London Gatwick Airport
All times are UTC.
01 December 2022 – 25 March 2023
Arrivals & Departures
| Monday |
0600-1455 |
1900-1955 |
|
| Tuesday |
0700-1055 |
|
|
| Wednesday |
0700-0955 |
2100-2155 |
|
| Thursday |
0700-1055 |
1400-1455 |
1700-1755 |
| Friday |
0600-1855 |
|
|
| Saturday |
0600-1455 |
1600-1655 |
|
| Sunday |
0600-0955 |
1100-1855 |
|
All times are UTC.
London Heathrow Airport
Arrivals
| Monday |
0500-1655 |
1800-2155 |
|
|
| Tuesday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Wednesday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Thursday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Friday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Saturday |
0500-1155 |
1300-1455 |
1900-1955 |
2100-2155 |
| Sunday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
Departures
| Monday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Tuesday |
0500-2055 |
|
|
|
| Wednesday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Thursday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Friday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Saturday |
0500-1455 |
2000-2155 |
|
|
| Sunday |
0500-0555 |
0700-1755 |
1900-2155 |
|
London Gatwick Airport
Arrivals & Departures
| Monday |
0500-1955 |
2100-2155 |
|
|
| Tuesday |
0500-0855 |
1000-1955 |
2100-2155 |
|
| Wednesday |
0500-1855 |
|
|
|
| Thursday |
0500-1955 |
2100-2155 |
|
|
| Friday |
0500-1955 |
2100-2155 |
|
|
| Saturday |
0500-1655 |
|
|
|
| Sunday |
0600-2255 |
|
|
|
Traffic Distribution Rules 1991 for airports serving the London area
Heathrow Airport
The Civil Aviation Authority, in exercise of its powers under the above Rules and having consulted Heathrow Airport Ltd and Airport Coordination Ltd announces that with effect from 0000 on 25 October 2020 until 2359 on 27 March 2021, the hours of peak congestion at Heathrow Airport for the purposes of the above Rules are as specified below:
All times are UTC.
Arrivals
| Monday |
0600-1655 |
1800-2255 |
|
| Tuesday |
0600-1455 |
1600-1655 |
1800-2255 |
| Wednesday |
0600-1355 |
1500-1655 |
1800-2255 |
| Thursday |
0600-1655 |
1800-2255 |
|
| Friday |
0600-2255 |
|
|
| Saturday |
0600-1455 |
1600-1655 |
|
| Sunday |
0600-1655 |
1800-2055 |
2200-2255 |
Departures
| Monday |
0800-1955 |
2100-2155 |
|
| Tuesday |
0700-1155 |
1300-1955 |
2200-2255 |
| Wednesday |
0800-1955 |
2100-2155 |
|
| Thursday |
0700-1755 |
1900-2055 |
2200-2255 |
| Friday |
0700-2255 |
|
|
| Saturday |
0800-1155 |
1300-1455 |
1600-1755 |
| Sunday |
0800-2155 |
|
|
Gatwick Airport
There are no hours of peak congestion at Gatwick Airport from 0001 on 25 October 2020 until 2359 on 27 March 2021.
All times are UTC.
London Heathrow Airport
Arrivals
| Monday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Tuesday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Wednesday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Thursday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Friday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Saturday |
0500-1055
|
1200-1355
|
1500-1555
|
1700-1755
|
1900-1955
|
2100-2155
|
| Sunday |
0700-0855 |
1100-2155 |
|
|
|
|
Departures
| Monday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Tuesday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Wednesday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Thursday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Friday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
|
| Saturday |
0500-1455 |
2000-2155 |
|
|
| Sunday |
0700-2155 |
|
|
|
London Gatwick Airport
No peak periods declared for Summer 2021.
All times are UTC.
London Heathrow Airport
Arrivals
| Monday |
0600-1255 |
1400-2255 |
|
| Tuesday |
0600-1255 |
1500-1855 |
2000-2255 |
| Wednesday |
0600-1255 |
1500-2255 |
|
| Thursday |
0600-1255 |
1400-2255 |
|
| Friday |
0600-2255 |
|
|
| Saturday |
0600-1255 |
1400-1455 |
1600-1655 |
| Sunday |
0600-2255 |
|
|
Departures
| Monday |
0600-2155 |
|
|
|
| Tuesday |
0600-0755 |
0900-1155 |
1300-2055 |
|
| Wednesday |
0600-1155 |
1300-2055 |
|
|
| Thursday |
0600-2255 |
|
|
|
| Friday |
0600-2155 |
|
|
|
| Saturday |
0600-0655 |
0900-1455 |
1600-1755 |
|
| Sunday |
0900-2155 |
|
|
|
London Gatwick Airport
No peak periods declared for Winter 2021.
All times are UTC.
London Heathrow Airport
Arrivals
| Monday |
0500-2155 |
|
| Tuesday |
0500-2155 |
|
| Wednesday |
0500-2155 |
|
| Thursday |
0500-2155 |
|
| Friday |
0500-2155 |
|
| Saturday |
0500-1355 |
|
| Sunday |
0700-1255 |
1400-2155 |
Departures
| Monday |
0500-2155 |
|
| Tuesday |
0500-2155 |
|
| Wednesday |
0500-2055 |
|
| Thursday |
0500-2155 |
|
| Friday |
0500-2155 |
|
| Saturday |
0500-1555 |
2000-2155 |
| Sunday |
0700-0955 |
1100-2055 |
London Gatwick Airport
27 May 2019-29 September 2019
Arrivals & Departures
| Monday |
0500-2055 |
|
|
| Tuesday |
0500-1855 |
|
|
| Wednesday |
0500-1055 |
1200-1555 |
1700-2155 |
| Thursday |
0500-1955 |
2100-2155 |
|
| Friday |
0500-2155 |
|
|
| Saturday |
0500-2255 |
|
|
| Sunday |
0700-0755 |
0900-1955 |
|
All times are UTC.
London Heathrow Airport
Arrivals
| Monday |
0600-2155 |
|
|
| Tuesday |
0600-2155 |
|
|
| Wednesday |
0600-1755 |
1900-2255 |
|
| Thursday |
0600-1655 |
1800-2255 |
|
| Friday |
0500-2255 |
|
|
| Saturday |
0600-1455 |
1600-1655 |
|
| Sunday |
0600-1555 |
1700-2055 |
2200-0055 |
Departures
| Monday |
0800-0955 |
|
|
|
| Tuesday |
0700-1155 |
1300-2055 |
2200-2255 |
|
| Wednesday |
0700-0755 |
0900-2155 |
|
|
| Thursday |
0700-0055 |
|
|
|
| Friday |
0600-2155 |
|
|
|
| Saturday |
0800-0855 |
1000-1155 |
1300-1455 |
1600-1655 |
| Sunday |
0800-2155 |
|
|
|
London Gatwick Airport
Arrivals & Departures
| Monday |
0700-1355 |
1500-1655 |
1900-2255 |
| Tuesday |
0700-0955 |
|
|
| Wednesday |
0700-0955 |
1900-2055 |
|
| Thursday |
0600-1055 |
1500-2055 |
|
| Friday |
0700-0855 |
1000-1655 |
1800-2255 |
| Saturday |
0600-1755 |
|
|
| Sunday |
0600-0855 |
1000-2155 |
|
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