An aircraft flies over homes near Brussels Zaventem Airport at night.
IATA has expressed its opposition to a proposed ban on night flights at Brussels Zaventem Airport (BRU), arguing that the plan ignores Belgium’s international obligations under the "balanced approach" to noise and would negatively affect air connectivity and economic growth.
The move comes after Belgium Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet on July 14 presented a draft ministerial decree recommending a total ban on night flights from the airport between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., starting in October 2024.
In addition to the curfew, the proposal seeks to reduce the average noise level by 30% between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., by 20% between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., and by 7% between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Older and noisier aircraft will no longer be welcome at the airport in the morning, in the evening or at weekends.
IATA says the draft decree presented by Gilkinet is “premature” as it violates Belgium’s obligations under the "balanced approach" to noise, which state that flight restrictions should be applied as a last resort and only after a detailed consultation and cost-benefit analysis.
The association adds that a night-flight ban will negatively affect the country’s economy and damage air connectivity. It pointed to the “modest but important number of night flight connections” to Africa, as well as the volume of cargo flights BRU handles during the night.
“The noise concerns of the community around Brussels airport must be heard, but it is profoundly unfortunate that Minister Gilkinet has attempted to circumvent the balanced approach, which is the long-accepted and successful international process for managing airport noise impacts,” IATA's Regional Vice President for Europe Rafael Schvartzman says.
“The balanced approach specifically helps to mitigate noise while protecting the benefits of air connectivity for the economy and community both near the airport and across Belgium as a whole, not least in terms of thousands of jobs. It is vital that the government scrap this proposal and instead engage in a meaningful consultation with stakeholders.”
IATA is the latest organization to voice its concerns about the potential ban on night flights following similar calls from trade unions, airlines and the airport’s operating company. In a statement, Brussels Airport Company says the proposal will have “unprecedented negative consequences on employment, connectivity, exports, and the economy in Belgium.”
While the draft decree from Gilkinet—who is a member of the Ecolo Party—still needs to win approval from government coalition partners, it further highlights the increasing pressure from legislators to impose capacity limitations in response to noise and environmental concerns.
Earlier this month, London City Airport was denied permission to increase its passenger cap and extend its opening hours amid “continued concerns over the noise and environmental impact of the airport on those living nearby.”
The Dutch government also won a legal battle to reduce the number of flights at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, overturning an April decision from a lower court that found the state plan to limit annual aircraft movements from 500,000 to 460,000 by the end of 2023 had “not followed the correct procedure” and would not be allowed to proceed. The government is looking to reduce noise at the airport by 20% during daytime hours and by 15% overnight.
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