Aircraft whose noise quota per take-off movement (QC-D) does not meet the maximum required values will be prohibited from taking off between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., according to a degressive system. These quotas will be set at 30 from January 1, 2024, 25 in 2025, 20 in 2030 and 13 in 2033.
55,000 movements will be authorized per year, excluding aircraft weighing less than 34 tonnes and/or less than 19 passengers, which represent 15% of current movements.
The discussions had resumed on Saturday at the Elysette in Jambes (Namur) following the ministers left the day before without an agreement on this renewal.
The single permit issued at the end of August by the delegated officials of the Region authorized the operation of the airport for the next 20 years, but limiting its capacity to 50,0000 movements per year and establishing a noise quota expected to decrease from year to year. in year.
Untenable conditions, considered from the start the airport and its main operators who had introduced appeals on which the regional government had to rule before February 1. But within the latter, opinions diverged, between the Minister for the Environment Céline Tellier (Ecolo), who did not want to make Liège airport “the sound dustbin of Europe”, while the minister in charge of Regional Planning, Willy Borsus (MR), described as “destructive” the limitation to 50,000 flights per year.
The airport welcomes “a positive signal”
“For companies and the thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the airport ecosystem, this decision is a positive signal”, reacted the management of Liège airport on Saturday in a press release.
The Walloon government agreed on Saturday evening shortly before 8 p.m. on the renewal of the single permit at Liège airport. 55,000 movements will be authorized per year, excluding aircraft weighing less than 34 tonnes and/or less than 19 passengers, which represent 15% of current movements.
In addition, aircraft whose noise quota per take-off movement (QC-D) does not meet the maximum required values will be prohibited from taking off between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., according to a decreasing system.
“We would like to thank the various ministers for understanding the crucial role played by the airport in the Liège region and, more broadly, for Wallonia”, comments the airport.
The Board of Directors of Liege Airport and the management announce however that they “will take the time to analyze the new permit in detail and will decide, if necessary, on the actions to be taken. »
The airport also ensures that it “assumes its part in the current climate momentum”: “with the help of Sowaer, our environmental policy has been deployed for several years (massive purchases and soundproofing of buildings, renewable energies, energy savings, quieter planes?)”, explains Laurent Jossart, CEO, quoted in the press release. “Let’s do everything we can to decarbonize aviation. Let’s act from within and develop our multimodal collaborations to replace the plane when possible. Our airport site is continuing its exchanges with logistics partners in this regard. Let’s build a greener airport together and transform our economy towards ever more sustainability,” he concludes.
Liege Airport also recalls that its development is continuing and “continues to be attractive for the world of air cargo”: “the recent arrivals of MSC Air Cargo and the imminent arrival of Air Canada cargo are strong signals sent to the market. »
Willy Borsus hails a “balanced result”
“Yes, it was long and complicated, but the balanced result deserves to be underlined”, reacted the Walloon Minister of the Economy Willy Borsus (MR) on Saturday evening. “It preserves the development of employment and the development of the airport – it was essential for me not to precipitate 10,000 families in anguish – and respects the concerns of local residents.”
55,000 movements will be authorized per year, excluding aircraft weighing less than 34 tonnes and/or less than 19 passengers, which represent 15% of current movements. In fact, with this 15% out of quota, this will be a limitation to some 63,250 flights per year. “Last year, we were at 39,000. this leaves a reasonable development trajectory”, underlined Willy Borsus. “And I note that the government has taken note of the possibility of requesting a supplement to the impact study.”
“This agreement should, it seems to me, delight the various stakeholders: workers, businesses and residents,” he concluded.
