Flemish Minister for Environment, Zuhal Demir, has announced the approval of a new environmental permit for Brussels Airport aimed, she says, at balancing economic interests and the liveability of surrounding suburbs.
There will be no ban on night flights, despite recommendations to that effect from the Health Care Department and Federal Mobility Minister Georges Gilkinet. According to Minister Demir such a ban would have cost about 1,600 jobs.
However, measures will be put in place to mitigate noise disturbance: by 2032, the number of serious sleep disturbances must be reduced by 30%, and ‘quiet’ weekend nights will be gradually phased in.
From 2032, there will be a cap of 240,000 flights per year, up from 212,000 in 2023, representing a potential increase of 13%. This limit exceeds the maximum of 234,000 flights proposed by the Regional Environmental Permit Committee (REPC). It is also well above the cap of 220,000 flights recommended by environmental organisation ‘Bond Beter Leefmilieu’, for 2025.
Airport operator Brussels Airport Company had wanted no ceiling imposed, hoping to continue expanding operations after 2032. However, this was rejected by Minister Demir, who said this had not been examined in the environmental impact report.
An application to modify the ceiling could still be made through an adjustment process if changes are sought later by the airport operator.
The effect of nitrogen emissions on surrounding communities had appeared to be the main obstacle to the environmental permit. However, documents supplied in support of the application showed that this effect was manageable, even in the event of permission to grow.
Minister Demir said the recently approved Nitrogen Decree had played a key role in this assessment. Without it, the application would have had to be denied, she said.
The balance struck in the permit between economic needs and residential sustainability supports approximately 64,000 direct and indirect jobs in the airport community, according to the minister.
Efforts are requested from the sector to maintain this balance and guarantee legal certainty, which would ensure these livelihoods and the prosperity of Flanders, Minister Demir stressed.
