The number of people living near Brussels Airport who are potentially affected by the airport's noise pollution will decrease by 12% over the next decade, thanks to the modernisation of aircraft, an environmental impact study found.
Two days after the launch of the public enquiry into the renewal of Brussels Airport Zaventem's environmental permit, the study – conducted by independent experts – found that the airport can continue to grow in terms of passengers and cargo, and at the same time reduce its noise impact on the environment.
"The noise impact of activities at Brussels Airport will therefore decrease in the coming years, despite the expected growth in passenger and freight traffic," stressed CEO Arnaud Feist.
Modern aircraft and more measures
The environmental impact study shows that the number of residents that are potentially seriously affected will fall by 12% compared with 2019, despite the population growth expected near the airport. This is mainly due to a fleet of newer, quieter aircraft which by 2032 will account for 63% of flights (compared with 31% today).
Brussels Airport will take additional measures: a new test site, additional sound barriers to limit nuisance from ground noise, quieter landing techniques, single-engine taxiing, the electrification of ground handling equipment and research into possible measures for nitrogen deposition in specific nature reserves.
According to a "realistic" future scenario envisaged "within the existing infrastructure" by the experts, the airport should handle 32 million passengers and one million tonnes of air freight in 2032, with the number of journeys almost stable compared with 2019, the last pre-Covid year.
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Brussels Airport pointed out that this growth is compatible with the current number of night flight slots (16,000). "The renewal of Brussels Airport's permit concerns the continuation of airport activities within the current infrastructure and rules; the airport does not require any expansion of the runway infrastructure, for example, nor any additional night slots."
Still, the airport stressed that "in the interest of the Belgian economy," it expects to be able to "grow along with the national and European economy" in the number of passengers and amount of cargo.
