On 19 June, ERA signed the Athens Declaration, urging enforcement of the ICAO Balanced Approach in the context of aircraft noise at airports and which aims to ensure regulatory consistency, balance sustainability with community concerns and protect regional air connectivity.
At the 35th ACI Europe Annual Congress & General Assembly, the Athens Declaration & Call for Action – backed by ACI Europe, Airlines for Europe (A4E) and ERA – was launched.
At the heart of the Declaration is a demand for the full enforcement of EU Regulation 598/2014, which mandates the use of the ICAO Balanced Approach, a globally recognised framework that ensures noise issues at airports are addressed through a structured, data-driven process. This includes exploring quieter aircraft technologies, improved operational procedures, land use planning and only as a last resort, operating restrictions.
Inconsistent noise policies and unco-ordinated restrictions have the potential to reduce flight options and risk threatening the viability of smaller airports as well as undermining the Single EU Aviation Market.
The Declaration calls on the European Commission and national governments to:
- Enforce the Balanced Approach uniformly across all member states.
- Provide clear guidance and oversight.
- Integrate noise management with broader sustainability and connectivity goals.
- Promote smart land use planning to prevent residential encroachment near airports.
Read the press release and full declaration.