The National Air Traffic Control Service (NATS) is consulting on the potential of implementing a system guiding planes to specific routes to and from airports.

It will help cut carbon emissions, bring aircraft into dedicated lanes and allow greater climbs during take-off and the ability to stay at higher altitudes for longer during landing procedures. This will reduce stacking - where airplanes circle in the air until ground space becomes available.

Yet the changes to flight paths would alter air traffic volumes in certain areas, in turn affecting noise levels. The British Medical Journal published findings suggesting aircraft noise as a possible contributing factor to heart problems.

NATS operations director Juliet Kennedy said: "The airspace above London is the most complex in the world and, as traffic levels increase, change is necessary to ensure safety and service levels."

Proposals currently focus on Gatwick and London City airports. Gatwick will be leading the consultation on changes before 4,000 ft and NATS will focus on those above 7,000 ft - anything in between will be jointly assessed. NATS is leading the process for other airports and London City is not currently ready to proceed with low altitude changes.

The consultation period will run until January 21st 2014.