A growing number of residents living near Brussels Airport are calling for a complete ban on night flights, citing severe noise pollution and associated health risks.
A recent survey conducted by a polling firm on behalf of logistics giant DHL revealed that 22% of 1,416 respondents supported a total prohibition of night-time operations at the airport in Zaventem.
The debate around night flights is not new but has resurfaced with greater urgency due to mounting evidence of their adverse impact on public health.
According to a noise contours study published by Brussels Airport in May, more than 100,000 residents living in the surrounding areas experience serious sleep disturbances caused by late-night and early-morning aircraft traffic.
The highest levels of noise nuisance were reported in the City of Brussels and Schaerbeek, areas most affected by flight paths. In the DHL-commissioned survey, 26% of participants said they heard “a little” noise at night, while 9% reported hearing “quite a lot to very much”.
Notably, regional attitudes differ significantly. While 32% of Brussels residents supported an outright night flight ban, only 17% of respondents in Flanders expressed the same opinion.
DHL, which operates around half of the night flights from Brussels Airport, argues that the operations are critical. The company handles urgent cargo including life-saving medicines and Belgian biotech exports from its Zaventem hub—the second largest in Europe after Leipzig.
“Time-critical shipments must reach their destinations within 24 hours,” DHL said. Despite efforts to mitigate the impact, residents and health experts continue to raise alarms.
A 2020 European Parliament report warned of serious long-term health effects from transportation noise, linking night-time aircraft sounds to increased risks of stroke, heart disease, and mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
The Superior Health Council (HGA) confirmed in a 2023 report that nearly 164,000 people near the airport are exposed to noise levels well above the World Health Organisation’s safe threshold of 45 dB(A).
Although a proposal to implement a total night flight ban between 23:00 and 06:00 was discussed in the Belgian Parliament in 2023, major stakeholders including Brussels Airport and Voka opposed it, warning of economic fallout and potential job losses.
A spokesperson for Brussels Airport acknowledged the issue and said noise levels have dropped by 57% between 2000 and 2019.
“The number of highly impacted residents will decrease by 12% in the coming years,” the spokesperson added. However, with 16,000 night flight slots still allowed annually, the debate over balancing economic priorities with public health remains unresolved.
