Residents and greens angry over Charleroi Airport’s development plan

Finding a balance between boosting economic growth and preserving peace and quiet has not been met in Charleroi Airport’s new 20-year operating licence, local residents have complained.

The plan for the country’s second largest airport will mean 4,000 more flights over the next six years, and a likely increase in noise pollution.

“It’s a huge disappointment,” said Luc Hindryckx of the Stop Charleroi Airport Noise Pollution Committee, after reading the agreement, in a 22 July RTBF report.

“There are no plans to limit flights. The overall impact of noise on the population’s health will not be reduced at all. Every flight is a noise peak that impacts health.

"All the scientific studies that clearly demonstrate this have obviously been dismissed out of hand. Instead of managing [the airport's development] 'like an engineer' as it promised, the government is playing the sorcerer’s apprentice and playing with the health of the population.”

In the new agreement, operating hours of the airport will remain unchanged: from 6.30 to 23.00. Exceptions to this rule will be subject to a quota that will decrease over time.

A quota also been established for noise. Reviewed every three years, it will not apply to certain long-haul aircraft to allow the airport to achieve its diversification objectives. Penalties will be increased, with tolerances eliminated and fines quadrupled – potentially reaching up to €10,000 per offence.

An agent from the independent airport environmental control authority (ACNAW), will be permanently stationed at the airport. The aim will be to control the various sources of pollution more efficiently.

In addition, a "polluter pays" system will be expanded. Since 2012, aviation has been subject to the European Union CO₂ emissions trading system (ETS). This mechanism imposes a reduced emissions cap each year and requires airlines to buy allowances to offset their pollution.

From 2026 onwards, all allowances will have to be purchased. This means that airlines operating at Charleroi, as at any other European airport, will have to bear the full cost of their CO₂ emissions.

With regard to noise pollution, controls will be strengthened, in particular through temporary acoustic measurements not currently covered by fixed measuring stations.

All these measures result from consultations with the residents and municipalities affected by overhead aircraft flights.

Loïc D’Haeyer (PS), mayor of Fleurus, the commune in which the airport is situated, wanted a more environmentally friendly airport. He believes his views have been considered, as: “In the future, there will be constant monitoring of various levels of pollution, both in the air and on the ground.

“There will also be noise control, particularly early in the morning and late at night,” he continued, adding: “We will, of course, pay close attention to the final text.”

On the other hand, he said: “We do regret, however, that a residents’ committee will not be created in future, as we had requested. But we have a theoretical framework that is heading in the right direction, and we will see if it is followed in practice.”

On the government side, the Walloon minister for regional planning, economic activity zones, public works and mobility, François Desquesnes (Les Engagés), said that the measures announced to protect the environment will not hinder the airport’s economic development.

“The permit allows for increased traffic at the airport. A balance must be found,” he said. “I would remind you that the airport generates a total of 10,000 jobs.

"To increase the number of flights departing from Charleroi, airlines will have to make more efforts to renew their fleets so that they have new aircraft that pollute less and make less noise."

But according to Belgium’s French-speaking green party Ecolo, the new operating licence for Charleroi Airport is a “noise pollution” project that is both “economically absurd and irresponsible for local residents and public health”.

"In 2045, based on the impact study, we can expect a 67% increase in air traffic, from 49,800 to 83,000 annual flights," Ecolo said.

Walloon green MP Veronica Cremasco said: “Even Jean-Jacques Cloquet, former chief executive of Charleroi airport and now a regional deputy for the liberal/centre right Les Engagés party, stated in Belgium’s L’Echo newspapers a few years ago that aiming for 15 million passengers was a mistake in view of the climate challenges - a warning ignored by the current management.”

According to Ecolo, even based on the planned reform of noise quotas, the permit “does not provide sufficient guarantees against late flights”.

“This permit is committing the future of an entire region,” concludes Ecolo co-president Marie Lecocq.

“It cannot be designed in secrecy, illegality and climate denial. Charleroi Airport cannot become Wallonia’s noise and environmental dumping ground.”