Brussels, May 8 -- Belgium's health authority called Tuesday (May 7) for a ban on night flights to and from Brussels airport to protect around 160,000 residents from noise pollution.

The Superior Health Council of Belgium pointed to several risks from excessive noise, including sleep disorders, learning difficulties in children, high blood pressure and depression.

Belgian health minister Frank Vandenbroucke welcomed the body's recommendation.

"There is no future for night activities at an airport in this densely populated region," he said. "I am therefore in favour of a gradual, realistic but systematic reduction in night flights, first by stopping the flights of the loudest aircraft."

The Brussels Airport operator insisted night-time...