Brussels Airport had in 2024 23.6 million passengers, up 6.4% compared to 2023, plus 10 new passenger destinations and 5 new passenger airlines. Cargo increased by 5% to 733,000 tons of total cargo + four new airlines joined cargo. Aircraft movements (198,617) increased by 3% in 2024 compared to 2023, passenger flights by 4%. The number of passengers per flight increased from 141 in 2023 to 144 due to the use of larger aircraft and higher load factors. The number of cargo flights increased by 1% compared to 2023.
The airport is located one kilometer northeast of the Brussels-Capital Region. The airport site is spread across four Flemish municipalities and directly borders the Brussels metropolitan area. This area is densely populated with townships in Zaventem, Diegem, Machelen, and Vilvoorde. On the other hand, the airport borders almost directly on an area covered by the Habitats Directive, the European Natura 2000 network of protected natural areas.
According to the reported noise contours around Brussels Airport for the year 2019, nearly 164,000 residents lived within the noise contours > 45 dB(A) Lnight (11pm – 7am) (in 2022: 152,000 residents). About 163,500 residents experienced more than 10 flight movements with an LAmax of more than 60 dB(A) per night (in 2022: over 123,000 residents).
As regards Brussels airport, ENVISA (2023) calculated the percentage of HA (Noise induced high annoyance) population within the Lden contours 45 dB(A) to 75 dB(A) for the year 2019 using the dose-effect relationship from the WHO. They arrived at a total of 220 000 HA residents. Using the Lnight contours, the percentage of the population highly disturbed during sleep (HSD, High Sleep Disturbance) within each noise band has been calculated using the dose-effect relationship from the WHO giving a total number of HSD equal to 109,000 HSD people.
A citizens complaint filed with the Ombuds Service for Brussels Airport about (night flight) noise nuisance solicited following reaction from the Ombuds Service: ‘There are solutions to the problem of organising flights at Brussels Airport without shifting traffic from one side to the other. We advocate a stricter approach especially for integrators (express cargo) and cargo aircraft at Brussels Airport. The fleet of passenger aircraft at Brussels Airport is already largely modernised, but in our opinion this is certainly not the case for cargo aircraft. We also propose to reduce the ceilings of individual aircraft noise quotas allowed during different periods of the day.’
The Flemish government produced the Brussels Airport Noise Action Plan 2025 – 2029 with measures and actions divided into air traffic noise abatement measures, ground noise abatement measures, actions and flanking policy initiatives.
The annulment of the environmental permit for Brussels Airport by the Council for Permit Disputes (RVVB) gives the Flemish government four years to adjust the permit. Not until 2029 does the government have to issue a new environmental permit for the airport. Meanwhile, Brussels Airport can continue to implement its growth scenario unhindered. Only in the summer of 2029 can the environmental movement and residents’ groups again submit their substantive objections to the RVVB if it turns out that the new environmental permit for the airport remains grossly inadequate and fails to take into account the concerns of local residents.
The Flemish government has also recently become the main shareholder of the airport. Their discourse shows that they expect a high return on their €1.7 billion contribution. Whether as a government they will also become advocates for the concerns of local residents and strive for a sustainable development of the airport remains an open question.
Member of UECNA: Bruxelles Air Libre Brussel
Member of UECNA: Sterrebeek 2000
Member of UECNA: AWACSS
‘It puzzles me how politicians continue to defend with “eyes wide shut” the benefits of night flights but remain stone-blind to their devastating impact on the health and wellbeing of local residents.’
Jos Jonckers, Sterrebeek 2000
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