A court ordered Japan’s government Thursday to increase compensation to hundreds of residents suffering from ear-throbbing jet noise produced by a U.S. military base in Tokyo’s suburbs, a court official said.

The Tokyo High Court upheld appeals by most of the 257 residents, saying they deserved more than 190 million yen ($1.8 million) collectively, up from the 160 million yen compensation ordered by a lower court in 2003, a court spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

Judge Hidetoshi Somiya, however, rejected their demand for a suspension of early morning and late night flights from the Yokota Air Base, and for advance compensation for future noise pollution.

The court ruled that it was inappropriate for the plaintiffs to demand a flight suspension because the Japanese government has no jurisdiction over U.S. military operations. The plaintiffs did not file the suit against the U.S. government.

It was unclear if either party would appeal the decision before Japan’s Supreme Court.

Japan hosts about 50,000 U.S. military personnel under a bilateral security treaty, and residents have long complained about noise, crime and environmental pollution related to the bases.

Residents near Yokota Air Base have filed five other lawsuits since the 1970s. Thursday’s ruling was in line with the earlier rulings, which have awarded compensation but rejected flight suspensions.

Taizo Asano, a plaintiff, said the court’s rejection of the request for flight suspensions was unfair.

“We will not be defeated by the ruling, but will continue to raise our voice until it is heard,” he told a news conference, televised by public broadcaster NHK. “We’ll continue our fight.”