Heavy criticism followed the publication of a report which showed noise from the low flying planes was disrupting children in nearby schools and the announcement the airport has been sold to ABN AMRO Global Infrastructure Fund for £132.5 million.

The Green Party said the airport had shown an "arrogant attitude" to the results of the schools survey.

Assembly member Brian Wilson said airport chief executive Brian Ambrose had not taken the concerns of residents and teachers seriously.

"His dismissal of this survey indicates a lack of regard for the welfare of the community which lives in the airport's vicinity. An airport must work along with the local community."

The survey, carried out by the Belfast City Airport Watch, questioned pupils and staff at 30 schools.

According to the findings, 12 schools said aircraft noise adversely affected pupil's concentration; 11 reported aircraft noise made outdoor activities less pleasant; nine schools said teaching and classes were interrupted; and five schools said examinations and tests were disturbed.

Progressive Unionist Party leader Dawn Purvis said Mr Ambrose was being "disingenuous" when he said he had received no official complaints about noise in the past 10 years.

She said: "The PUP's office has been inundated with complaints from local residents, which we have shared with Mr Ambrose.

"It is not a difficult connection to make that parents concerned about the effects of noise and pollution on their children at homes located in and near the flight path would similarly be concerned about those same issues while their children are at school."

Campaign group Belfast City Airport Watch – which published the report – warned the new owners of the airport that there would be no let-up in its opposition to the "unwanted and unjustified" expansion plans at the complex.

Plans to lengthen the runway by a third of a mile have not yet been passed.

ABN AMRO is paying nearly four times what its previous owners sold it for five years ago.

Fiona McKinley, of Belfast City Airport Watch, said while nothing was known about ABN AMRO's intentions for the airport, she hoped "they fully realise the enormity of what they are taking on".

She said they were "implacably opposed" to extending the runway and extending passenger and aircraft numbers.

"A change in ownership means nothing to us," she said. "The issues are the same.

"We call on ABN AMRO to respect their new neighbours by operating within the current planning regime and abandon the idea of a runway extension."

She also called on Environment Minister Sammy Wilson to put in place robust regulations to protect residents from the impact of the airport.