Emirates charged with breaching overnight curfew

[Alex T]

From: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-...105-2wyqj.html

Emirates charged with breaching overnight curfew at Sydney Airport

Emirates has become the first airline to be charged with breaching the overnight curfew on flights at Sydney Airport since Jetstar was prosecuted six years ago. After an investigation, the Department of Infrastructure and Transport has decided to push for charges to be laid against the Dubai-based airline for three alleged breaches of the curfew between late 2011 and January this year. The airline faces a maximum fine of $550,000 for each breach of the curfew, which is designed to prevent commercial airlines from flying between 11pm and 6am at Kingsford Smith. The department alleges that the most recent breach occurred on January 8 when Emirates flight EK413 took off from the airport bound for Dubai about 11.40pm – 40 minutes after the curfew takes effect.

The latest an Emirates flight – EK413 – is alleged to have taken off is about 11.46pm on December 16, 2011. The other charge relates to an alleged breach by flight EK419 about 11.14pm on November 8, 2011.

Emirates is yet to enter a plea in the case, which is before the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney.