At the start of April, Schipol made a surprising announcement that they would be banning take-offs and landings between midnight and 5 AM. This decision has worried many Belgian residents and shocked airlines. The concern in Brussels is particularly high as they fear the 10,000 annual flights that Schipol will lose will relocate to Brussels airport and cause an increase in nighttime noise, which is not welcome in certain municipalities. Some officials, such as Benoît Cerexhe, the mayor of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, have called for a ban on night flights in Zaventem for environmental and social reasons.
Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet would like Brussels International Airport to follow the path of Schipol and protect the quality of life of local residents while still promoting airport activities. He plans to propose measures to drastically reduce noise pollution from planes at Brussels airport, especially during sensitive times. One proposal involves revising the noise quota system for aircraft using the airport and controlling compliance by airlines with their time slot. The number of night flights carried out in 2022 has already exceeded the number of night slots authorized. Gilkinet’s other proposal is to prohibit short flights on Belgian territory.
Although these proposals have not yet been discussed by the government, the Liberals are eager to discuss them. Deputy Prime Minister David Clarinval acknowledges the importance of the airport as an economic engine and key gateway to Brussels, the first diplomatic capital of the world. Nevertheless, the MR spokesperson believes that they must respect the balance between the health of residents and the economic activity of the airport.
Schipol took everyone by surprise at the beginning of April. By announcing that it would ban take-offs and landings between midnight and five o’clock in the morning, Amsterdam airport shocked the airlines and worried many Belgian residents. If one of the largest air hubs in Europe decides to reduce its attendance, what will be the impact for its neighbours?
In Brussels, the concern is great. Many fear that the 10,000 annual flights that Schipol will be deprived of will deport to Brussels Airport and result in an increase in nighttime noise, which is particularly unwelcome in certain municipalities. “The Brussels region must not become Schipol’s sound trash can”, launches Benoît Cerexhe (The Committed). The mayor of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre has long called for a ban on night flights in Zaventem for social and environmental reasons. “If it is done in other countries, it must be possible for us. The airport should not respond only to the sirens of economic development.”
At the federal level, the concern about the impact on the health of local residents is shared, but it does not translate into such radical proposals. Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo), who inherited this politically muddy dossier with the desire to bring some solutions to it, would like Brussels International Airport to be able to follow the path opened up by its Amsterdam neighbor.
”I am watching carefully what is happening in the Netherlands. For me, it is out of the question for Brussels-National to become Europe’s sound dustbin. On the contrary, we must draw inspiration from the best European examples, such as that of Schiphol, which demonstrates that it is possible to better combine protection of the quality of life of local residents and airport activities”. replies the Deputy Prime Minister.
The environmentalist will table on the table of the federal government a series of proposals aimed at drastically reducing the noise of the planes which frequent the national airport, “especially at the most delicate times”, he says. “Residents of the airport also have the right to rest!”
A first proposal intends to revise the quota count system (noise quota) for aircraft using the airport. It is also a question of controlling in a way “much stricter compliance by airlines with their time slot. If we refer to the available data, we learn that the number of night flights carried out in 2022 has significantly exceeded the number of night slots currently authorized. “It is exactly in the opposite direction that you have to go!”sends the Minister.
Another shock measure: prohibit short flights on Belgian territory.
These proposals, which are germinating on the side of the Greens, have not yet arrived at the government table. The Liberals say they are delighted to be able to discuss it soon. For Deputy Prime Minister David Clarinval (MR), Zaventem airport represents “not only the second economic engine of the country but it is also a key gateway to Brussels, the first diplomatic capital of the world”as he indicated during a visit to the airport infrastructure alongside Arnaud Feist.
Being attached to the economic power of this pole, what position will he defend when the discussions come to the Vivaldi table? “The MR will take care to respect the balance between on the one hand the health of the inhabitants impacted by the passage of the planes and on the other hand, the important economic activity of the airport”. replies his spokesperson.
As Schipol airport implements a ban on take-offs and landings in the middle of the night, concerns are growing in Brussels that Schipol’s loss of traffic may lead to an increase in nighttime noise at Belgium’s own Brussels Airport. While the federal government is mindful of the impact of aircraft noise on local residents’ health, the proposal to ban all nightly flights in Zaventem, as called for by the mayor of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, has yet to gain support. Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet is looking at the example of Schipol and will seek to reduce aircraft noise at critical times by revising the noise quota system for planes at the airport and enforcing much stricter compliance from airlines with their allocated time slots. While discussions are ongoing, the future position of the airport remains a balancing act between economic activity and residents’ concerns.