Evere goes to court over Brussels Airport flight path

The municipality of Evere is taking legal action to challenge the intensive use of the RNP 07L flight path at Brussels Airport, which residents say is causing significant noise pollution.

The college of the mayor and aldermen has appointed a lawyer and Evere has officially joined the proceedings initiated by the Region.

Recently dubbed the "Crucke route" after federal mobility minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés), the route was introduced in July 2025 as part of a temporary reorganisation of air traffic during construction work. But the RNP 07L route has continued to be used since the work was completed. 

The municipality has criticised an increase in low-altitude aircraft flyovers, repeated noise and night-time flyovers. 

“What was supposed to be a temporary measure cannot become a permanent situation at the expense of residents’ peace and quiet, sleep and quality of life,” says Evere mayor Alessandro Zappala (PS).    

Schaerbeek and Berchem-Sainte-Agathe also launched proceedings against the flight path and on 11 June, the Brussels government decided to bring an action for an injunction against its use. The municipalities were then invited to join the proceedings. 

Opposition is also spreading to Flanders. About 40 families from Dilbeek, Lennik and Roosdaal announced that they are also taking the Belgian state to court.

According to the region, more than 270,000 Brussels residents are affected by the nuisance caused by the route, and 96% of the flights measured exceed Brussels’ noise standards.

Crucke has stated on several occasions that the satellite-guided route is a European requirement and an alternative procedure when the preferred runways cannot be used, particularly due to wind conditions.

Due to the return of the easterly wind, Brussels Airport often opts to have aircraft land via a GPS-guided route from the west. The approach to the airport begins somewhere above Lennik, after which the aircraft continue their descent over the north-west of the Brussels region.

On busy days, an aeroplane begins its descent every two to three minutes, resulting in significant noise pollution. Even at night, the low-flying aircraft follow one another in quick succession. 

“Residents are often subjected to the noise of landing aircraft for days on end,” said one of the citizens’ collectives opposing the regular use of the route. 

“Since the introduction of the ‘Crucke’ flight path, residents have seen their quality of life and their night’s sleep severely disrupted, particularly when there are easterly and north-easterly winds, but sometimes also in other weather conditions.”

Their main demand is the immediate suspension of flight path RNP 07L, pending a broadly supported final agreement on flight paths. 

The proceedings are taking place at the Court of First Instance in Brussels but there is no prospect of a swift ruling. The first hearing is provisionally scheduled for February 2027, and an interim ruling is expected in early November.

Crucke is bearing the brunt of the criticism, having previously held out the prospect of a political settlement on the flight paths by the national holiday on 21 July and then 1 October, but with nothing to show for it.

The action group Free Air 4 Brussels has sharply criticised what it described as “Crucke’s total unwillingness to listen”. 

Crucke stated in a written response that he was “taking note” of the new legal proceedings, but maintained that only political consultation between the federal government and the relevant regional and local authorities can offer a sustainable solution. 

“I understand the impatience of local residents regarding an issue that has been dragging on for years, but the response to this situation must be structural and must come from the government,” Crucke said.

“The legal proceedings that continue to pile up demonstrate once again that it’s no longer possible to postpone the necessary decisions.”