Following a public enquiry into the request to extend its permit for 20 years last April, Liège Airport has finally received permission to continue operating until at least 2043, albeit with strict new conditions relating to noise pollution.
The decision was communicated to the airport on 26 August, as well as to local municipalities, La Libre Belgique reports. The airport has been a point of contention for local residents, who regularly complain of high noise levels from landing aircraft.
It is primarily used by cargo aircraft that regularly use the airport and its logistics hub to deliver goods to Europe. The airport had planned to expand significantly in the next 20 years; however, Belgian authorities have now imposed tighter conditions on the operation of the airport.
Noise pollution
The Technical Officer of the Wallonia Region has demanded that the airport enact a cap on the number of flights per year, as well as a limit on noise quotas, especially between 23:00 and 06:00.
To limit nocturnal noise from the airport, the airport claims that it will use “existing technologies” to limit noise pollution from take-off and landings. The permit sets out a formula which will be used to designate maximum noise limits, depending on the time of day.
The airport must also commit to progressive reductions in noise pollution. From 2024-2033, noise levels must drop by 5%. In 2033-2042, they must fall by another 3%.
Air traffic
The new permit sets clear limits on the annual number of take-offs and landings: for aircraft weighing more than 34 tonnes, this will be limited to 50,000. Liège Airport had previously planned to double the number of take-offs and landings to around 70,000 by 2043.
Air pollution has also been a point of contention for local activists. The Liège Clean Air collective has said that “the whole province of Liège, and even beyond, is now impacted by the activity of Liège Airport.”
Related News
The municipalities are equally unhappy with the new agreement. Fed up with the impact of the airport, many had hoped that the new permit would not be granted at all. They will now have 20 days to appeal to the relevant authorities.
Liège Airport will still need to carry out new air quality impact studies throughout the year in order to comply with the terms of the permit. Every five years, these tests will be repeated to ensure that the airport is compliant with the regulations.
The airport may appeal the conditions of the permit, which would restrict activities of large logistics companies such as Fedex or DHL.
