Brussels Airport has been granted an environmental permit of indefinite duration by Flemish Minister for the Environment Zuhal Demir, from the N-VA party. While there will be no ban on night flights, the minister has imposed several conditions on the airport to balance economic prosperity with environmental impact.
The current permit, granted in 2004, was set to expire on July 8, prompting Demir to make a decision based on a favorable recommendation from the Regional Environmental Permit Committee (GOVC) regarding converting the expiring permit into one of indefinite duration. CEO Arnaud Feist of Brussels Airport has emphasized the importance of expansion space for the airport in order to maintain its status as the country’s second economic engine.
Demir has stated her goal of striking a balance between economic prosperity and environmental impact. Conditions attached to the new permit include fewer night flights, noise pollution mitigation, a potential cap on flight movements, and reduced nitrogen emissions. While Demir did not go as far as the Healthcare Department’s recommendation for a ban on night flights, she did require a significant reduction in the number of disruptive flights that disturb sleep. The minister has mandated a 30% reduction in these flights by 2032 and imposed a ceiling of 240,000 flights per year from 2032 onwards.
In a press release, Demir highlighted the importance of Zaventem airport as a growth engine for the country and expressed confidence in securing its future with the environmental permit. The minister stressed the need to balance economic interests with the quality of life for the surrounding area, acknowledging the contributions of the airport community to the region’s prosperity. By imposing conditions on
