Late-night private jets at airport spark controversy among locals as they note it's ‘like a chainsaw next door’
Published on Jan 10, 2026 at 8:31 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jan 09, 2026 at 5:33 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Locals near an airport in New Zealand have been outraged thanks to late-night private jets creating a ‘chainsaw next door.’
Noisy surroundings if you live near an airport are to be expected; however, you probably expect traffic to quieten down as the night draws in and you head to sleep.
But residents in New Zealand have been begging officials to curb overnight private jet traffic at Nelson airport due to the noise they are creating.
While many airports have curfews after a certain time, it would appear this particular one was not adhering to them.
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Why have the private jets caused complaints?
Locals have said that Nelson Airport has not been adhering to a curfew.
These curtail aircraft noise pollution after certain hours, ensuring residents nearby can get to sleep okay.
Luxury private jets, however, appeared to have circumvented this curfew at the New Zealand airport.
This is not the first time an airport has seen the problem crop up.
In 2023, as reported by CNN, Amsterdam Schiphol was considering a ban on private jets.
This was down to what it said was ‘a disproportionate amount of noise nuisance and CO2 emissions per passenger.’
With cutting down on carbon emissions more important than ever, increased private jet activity is not welcome.
Residents in Nelson are seeking at least more restrictions on late-night and early-morning flying.
Why has it become such a problem in Nelson?
One resident, Solomon, recorded an audio file of a private jet at 11:31 pm one night.
The aircraft then started up again 26 minutes later.
This is where the chainsaw comparison came in.
Solomon said, in terms of the volume, that ‘it would probably be similar to your neighbour starting up a chainsaw at 11:31 pm.’
Clearly, that isn’t something that anyone should have to deal with.
It’s understandable why residents felt so aggrieved by the late-night noise at the airport.
Some of this was attributed to ’emergency flights’, although that doesn’t appear to match what residents have said.
The last thing anyone wants is to be kept up all night by loud noises.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
