Curfew Dispensations
In exceptional circumstances, an operator may apply to the Department for approval to take-off
or land during the curfew (a curfew dispensation). All requests for permission to take-off or land
are made through a Curfew Duty Officer who will assess the situation in relation to a set of
criteria which must be met before permission to take-off or land can be granted.
Three primary criteria must be met for permission to take-off or and at Sydney Airport:
1. The circumstances are immediate in origin (e.g. they occurred at the time of preparing to
depart from, or commencing a flight to arrive at, Sydney Airport.
2. Of such character that they could not reasonably have been foreseen (e.g. mechanical
fault, passengers who fail to board requiring baggage offload etc.)
3. Not reasonably able to be met by alternative arrangements (e.g. flight cancellations, using
other aircraft, or other modes of transport).
When all three of these criteria are satisfied, the following matters may be taken into account to
determine whether permission to take-off or land should be granted:
By what margin the movement falls into the curfew period (i.e. whether shortly after
11.00pm or shortly before 6.00am).
Whether the cause of the delay is within the control of the operator.
The noise level of the aircraft.
Number of passengers involved.
The severity of the likely hardship.