According to an announcement from Heist, any aircraft entering the runway after 11 pm without a designated night slot will be required to return to the gate and disembark passengers. This means that flights without allocated slots will either need to wait until the following day to depart or face fines if they land after 11 pm.
The implementation of these regulations is expected to reduce the number of night flights by approximately ten percent. Currently, there are around 1,600 flights per year that operate without an allocated slot during the restricted nighttime hours.
It's important to note that while Brussels Airport intends to disallow night flights without allocated slots, they have emphasized that the total number of available slots for night flights will remain unchanged. The airport plans to manage the distribution of night flight slots more effectively to strike a balance between operational requirements and mitigating the impact on local communities.
To enforce these changes, a proposal has been submitted to Georges Gilkinet, the Minister of Transport of Belgium. The proposal is currently awaiting a decision from the General Directorate for Aviation, which will determine the final course of action.
In addition to efforts to regulate night flights, Brussels Airport has also made significant commitments to reduce carbon emissions. The airport has announced plans to replace its existing heating installation with a carbon-neutral alternative by early 2027. This new installation will provide heating to the terminal buildings without emitting CO2, resulting in a substantial reduction of Brussels Airport Company's total carbon emissions, estimated to be around 70 percent.
Brussels Airport is well-known for its high passenger traffic, serving as a major gateway for travelers. Recent statistics from April 2023, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com, indicate an 18 percent increase in passengers compared to the same period in 2022. This growth underscores the airport's role in connecting people to a wide range of destinations.
The top ten most popular destinations for passengers departing from Brussels Airport in April 2023 were Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, the US, Türkiye, France, the UK, Switzerland, and Morocco. These destinations reflect the diverse range of travel preferences among the airport's passengers.
Since information can evolve over time, it is advisable to refer to reliable news sources or visit the official website of Brussels Airport for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding these regulations, carbon reduction plans, passenger statistics, and destinations served.
