ACI EUROPE calls on governments to abide by the Noise Balanced Approach framework.
The framework required assessment of noise reduction at source, land-use planning, and operational procedures before restrictions. European airports implemented noise abatement procedures like continuous descent operations.
The European Environment Agency forecasted a 32pc decline in people annoyed by aircraft noise by 2030. The organisation published analysis and recommendations in response to the EU evaluation.
Olivier Jankovec shared “If Europe is serious about restoring its competitiveness and boosting its economy, it must be able to fully capitalise on its airport infrastructure. This means making the most of available capacity to safeguard and develop its connectivity within well-defined and realistic noise containment objectives, and this is precisely what the EU Noise Balanced Approach Regulation is about. Yet, this is not what is happening. Not only is the implementation of the Balanced Approach inconsistent across the EU, but several countries have recently simply disregarded it.
They have looked at introducing operating restrictions which limit the use of available airport capacity without considering other ways of reducing noise exposure and have also by-passed the cost effectiveness assessments mandated by the EU Regulation. In doing so, these countries are undermining the effectiveness of airport noise abatement efforts and compromising the economic and social benefits of air connectivity for their communities and regions.”
“Airports have been addressing aircraft noise proactively for decades as part of their sustainability strategies. The Balanced Approach Regulation, if applied correctly and consistently, can support these efforts, whereas blunt operating restrictions can only wreak havoc. The need to balance noise abatement with the socio-economic role of airports is at the core of the policy recommendations we are publishing today and must be top of mind for all stakeholders through a consistent application of EU law.”
