File picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

The future of night flights at Heathrow Airport is subject to a new government consultation.

The Department for Health is seeking views on the existing restrictions, introduced in March last year, ahead of plans to introduce a new regime in 2014.

The airport currently has a voluntary curfew on night flights between 11.30pm and 4.30am

“Additionally this consultation includes a review of current evidence on the costs of night flights, particularly noise, and the benefits of these flights,” transport minister Simon Burns said in a statement today.

“These proposals, which will be informed by the evidence we receive from this first stage consultation, will need to strike a fair balance between the interests of those affected by the noise disturbance and those of the airports, passengers and the UK economy.”

The government has already tasked a commission headed by Sir Howard Davies to examine the future of aviation in this country.

The deadline for responses to the consultation is April 22 this year.