Balanced Approach kicks off

The Balanced Approach (BA) procedure for the 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. The airport’s environmental permit was annulled in 2024 because the competent minister had imposed strict operational restrictions without first following this procedure. 

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. 

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 manner, taking into account connectivity and economic aspects. 

1. First, the government determines how much noise reduction is required. 

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: 

• tackling noise at the source (e.g. through newer, quieter aircraft),
• spatial planning, 
• adapted procedures (e.g. optimization of flight routes and runway use), 
• and operational restrictions if the first three categories are not sufficient. 

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. 

4. This is followed by a public consultation in which everyone can participate, and a recommendation from the European Commission. 

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 for the day-to-day operation of the airport. When annulling the environmental permit, the Council for Permit Disputes decided that the operation of the airport could continue, so operations, flights and activities are continuing as normal. The Council gave the Flemish Minister for the Environment until 30 June 2029 to complete the Balanced Approach procedure and take a decision on a new environmental permit.