Aberdeen Airport is at the centre of the open-all-hours row

The council's planning committee voted in favour of the application for a two-year trial period.

However, an amendment suggesting night flying should be allowed for delayed flights only, won support to have the matter referred to the full council.

Business leaders have made an economic case for extended opening but objectors are concerned about extra noise.

'Polarisation of views'

Local authority officials are split because planners believe an open-all-hours airport is "vital" for the local economy, while environmental health officials are angry over the noise nuisance from all-night flights.

Householders living nearby have argued the airport's plans to control noise are not good enough.

A report by council officials recognised the "polarisation" of views over the application and stated that "much depends on the relative weightings that are given to the economic advantages as opposed to the negative impacts on local residents. These issues are difficult to reconcile".

The row over Scotland's third largest airport has been raging for years.

It has recently notched up record passenger numbers because of several new services from the north east.

Terminal operator BAA has insisted that further growth has been limited by strict landing and take-off restrictions.