The Balanced Approach (BA) procedure for our airport has started this week. This is a mandatory European procedure that governments must follow when they want to address aircraft noise around airports.
The Flemish and federal governments are launching the procedure jointly, so that the Flemish Government can subsequently take a new decision on the environmental permit. Brussels Airport will of course cooperate actively and constructively, together with all stakeholders, including local authorities. The aim is to arrive at a legally secure operational framework that allows sustainable growth while at the same time reducing nuisance in a realistic way.
What exactly happened to our permit?
In July 2024, the Council for Permit Disputes annulled our environmental permit because, in their view, it was not in line with European law. The permit contained new, strict operational restrictions (such as a cap on the number of flight movements), but these cannot be introduced without first going through the Balanced Approach procedure. The authorities are now launching this procedure so that they can subsequently issue a legally valid permit.
Important to know: this ruling has no impact on the day-to-day operation of our airport. We may continue to operate as we do today until 30 June 2029, by which time an amended permit must be issued.
How does the Balanced Approach procedure work?
The Balanced Approach is a European procedure that sets out how governments must tackle the reduction of aircraft noise around airports in a balanced way, taking into account connectivity and economic aspects. The procedure consists of several steps:
Step 1: First, the government determines how much noise reduction is required.
Step 2: Next, in cooperation with the key stakeholders (including Brussels Airport, airlines, skeyes, as well as local authorities, etc.), they examine which measures can achieve that reduction. This involves looking at:
a. tackling noise at the source (e.g. through newer, quieter aircraft),
b. spatial planning,
c. adapted procedures (e.g. optimization of flight routes and runway use),
and operational restrictions if the first three categories are not sufficient.
Step 3: Not only the noise impact but also the economic impact is examined and considered in order to arrive at the most cost-efficient and balanced package of measures.
Step 4: This is followed by a public consultation in which everyone can participate, and a recommendation from the European Commission.
Step 5: Finally, the competent authorities translate the measures from the procedure into regulations and, where applicable, into the new environmental permit.
What is Brussels Airport’s position in this procedure?
For Brussels Airport, the Balanced Approach is an important lever to finally achieve:
- a stable, coherent and legally secure operational framework that provides clarity for everyone about the future of the airport,
- a further realistic reduction of noise nuisance for the surrounding area, in a feasible way that also takes connectivity, employment and the economy into account,
- the possibility for sustainable development and growth of the airport in the short and long term. The airport wants to continue to grow during the daytime period (6 a.m.–11 p.m.) in line with market demand and economic growth. For night flights, a framework of a maximum of 16,000 night slots per year already exists, and the airport is not requesting any expansion of this.
The airport does, however, warn that the government has set very stringent noise reduction targets. These concern a reduction of highly annoyed residents and highly sleep-disturbed residents by 30% by 2032 compared with 2019. This despite the fact that the environmental impact assessment submitted with the permit application put forward a reduction of 10% in severely annoyed residents and 15% in severely sleep-disturbed residents. That already represents a substantial reduction, for which the entire airport community is making significant efforts.
And in the meantime?
Nothing changes in our daily operations: our operations, flights and activities continue as normal, and we will also keep working on our strategic priorities — further development of our connectivity and hub, sustainability and diversification.