Originally Posted by
SW7London
Defining how/what flights are allowed per a given quota is purely under HMGs remit, not ICAO
There were great strides in the QC system in terms of reducing pollution/noise and driving airlines to operate more modern aircraft in the 1990s/early 2000s, not so much recently. In fact, they only banned RR 747-400s during the pandemic, just after BA decided to remove them from their fleet.
Allowing 40 year aircraft to fly into Heathrow in the 2030s is ridiculous.
When you say 'banned' does this mean 'not allowed' or just that there would have been some sort of fine for each usage. I recall reading that the reason BA shifted the A321 CEOs to Gatwick is because they now breached some sort of LHR noise regulation and there would've been fairly substantial penalties for each usage.
On a wider note, I do think the industry overall needs to make a bigger play of how much quieter planes are these days. Anyone living on an approach path now (and I speak as someone who does) has it far easier than someone in an equivalent place in the 70s or 80s would have!