Saturday, June 21, 2025
In a joint statement issued on 19 June, key European air communities called upon the European Union to adopt a more balanced and proportionate approach to airport noise, specifically in reaction to an growing trend among national governments to impose unilateral noise-linked operating constraints upon airports.
The statement, launched at Athens’ 35th ACI Europe Annual Congress and General Assembly, is backed by the European Airports Council International (ACI EUROPE), Airlines for Europe (A4E), and the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
The aviation groups expressed serious concern over the increasing trend of ad hoc decisions by various national governments imposing airport noise restrictions without adhering to the established international frameworks.
These actions, they argue, not only disrupt air connectivity but also undermine the integrity of the Single EU Aviation Market, ultimately putting Europe’s global aviation competitiveness at risk. The aviation bodies emphasized the urgent need for the European Commission and EU member states to enforce the use of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) ‘Balanced Approach’, a framework designed to ensure that airport noise management decisions are made in a structured, consistent, and globally recognized manner.
The ICAO ‘Balanced Approach’ Framework and Its Importance
The ICAO Balanced Approach to airport noise management was first adopted in 2001 and provides a comprehensive methodology for assessing and addressing noise-related issues around airports. The framework emphasizes four key elements for managing airport noise:
- Reduction at source: Measures to reduce noise at the aircraft level, such as noise-reducing technology and aircraft design improvements.
- Land use planning and management: Ensuring that land around airports is properly planned and managed to minimize the impact of noise on residential and commercial properties.
- Noise abatement operational procedures: Implementing measures to reduce noise during aircraft operations, such as optimizing flight paths or adjusting takeoff and landing procedures.
- Noise-related operating restrictions: Imposing restrictions only when necessary, based on a thorough analysis, and ensuring that they are proportionate, targeted, and enforceable.
The declaration from ACI EUROPE, A4E, and ERA underscores the need for these measures to be mandatory across the EU and for compliance to be rigorously monitored through EU Regulation 598/2014, which governs noise-related operating restrictions at EU airports.
The Growing Trend of National Noise Restrictions
Despite the clear guidance provided by the ICAO framework, many EU member states have moved to impose unilateral noise restrictions on their airports without fully adhering to the legal processes and standards set out by the EU and ICAO. Notably, airports in major European cities, including Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Paris, London, Stockholm, Zurich, and Amsterdam, have introduced night flight restrictions as a means of reducing aircraft noise.
The Dutch government, for instance, has announced plans to reduce the capacity of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport from 500,000 flights per year to 478,000 flights starting in 2025. This decision follows a previous attempt to cut capacity at the airport, which was unsuccessful. While the Dutch government claims that this measure is necessary to reduce noise pollution, the aviation industry, particularly airlines operating out of Schiphol, has strongly criticized the move.
Airline groups argue that these capacity reductions will significantly disrupt connectivity, particularly for European airlines like KLM, which relies heavily on the airport as a hub for international flights.
In addition to Schiphol, airports like Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport, and London Heathrow have also been at the center of the debate over night flight bans and operational restrictions aimed at reducing noise pollution.
While these measures are generally supported by local residents concerned about noise, the aviation sector has raised concerns about their long-term impact on flight schedules and economic performance. Lufthansa, British Airways, and other airlines operating from these airports argue that such measures disrupt the economy of the surrounding regions and damage the aviation industry’s competitiveness globally.
The Impact on Air Connectivity and Competitiveness
The joint declaration from ACI EUROPE, A4E, and ERA stresses the importance of maintaining air connectivity for European citizens, noting that these ad hoc restrictions jeopardize Europe’s global aviation competitiveness. The aviation groups warn that fragmented decisions regarding airport noise management could result in operational inefficiencies, increased costs for airlines, and potential loss of global market share for European airports.
As airlines like Air France, Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air continue to expand their networks across Europe and beyond, these operational restrictions could impede their ability to provide affordable air travel for millions of European passengers. The groups emphasize the need for coordinated policies that allow for sustainable airport operations while protecting local communities from excessive noise pollution.
The Case for a ‘Balanced Approach’ to Airport Noise Management
The European aviation groups advocate for the Balanced Approach to be made a mandatory process for managing airport noise in the EU. By adhering to this comprehensive framework, airports can take a more holistic and integrated approach to noise management, addressing the issue without imposing overly restrictive measures that harm the broader aviation ecosystem.
“Sustainability, noise management, and connectivity must be addressed together – not in isolation,” the aviation groups stated. They argue that sustainable growth in the aviation sector cannot be achieved if airports continue to impose fragmented and politically-driven decisions on noise restrictions that harm the industry and hinder its ability to serve passengers.
The Path Forward for EU Aviation Policy
In addressing the delicate task of balancing environmental sustainability and operational efficiency, EU’s air sector will still be informed in key respects by ICAO’s Balanced Approach. Defining airport noise policy in such a fashion that promotes sustainability while still allowing Europe to remain competitive in global aviation will necessitate greater coherence and consistency in airport noise policy.
The EU member states and European Commission having been called to respond swiftly, it is clear that all industry parties—aviation authorities, airport companies, and air carriers—must cooperate to come up with new solutions to serve short-term requirements among local communities and long-term viability for the industry.
Source: Business Travel News Europe
Tags: A4E, ACI Europe, Air France, Amsterdam, easyJet, ERA, EU, Frankfurt, ICAO, london, lufthansa, Ryanair