At the 35th Annual congress and general assembly of Aci Europe (Airports Council International, the association that brings together European airport managers) taking place in Athens (18-20 June 2025), European airports and airlines represented by the organiser, Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the European Regions Airline Association (Era) presented the "Athens declaration and call to action" for the effective application of the "Noise balanced approach", a process envisaged to address aircraft noise. The document "urges immediate and decisive action to ensure the full and consistent application of the Balanced Approach procedure when addressing noise issues at airports, as required by the globally recognised Icao (International civil aviation organisation) framework and EU Regulation 598/2014", as stated in a press release. "The Declaration follows a series of cases across Europe where national governments have imposed operational restrictions at airports without respecting the procedures and legal standards set out in these regulatory frameworks. These ad hoc decisions threaten the air connectivity on which European citizens depend, undermine the integrity of the EU's single aviation market and ultimately jeopardise the global competitiveness of European aviation," the statement continues.

The act calls on the European Commission, EU Member States and governments across Europe to:
- "fully apply EU Regulation 598/2014 at all stages of the balanced approach procedure;
- provide clear guidelines and monitor compliance to avoid fragmented and politically driven decisions;
- prioritize evidence-based processes and adopt land-use planning that prevents residential encroachment into airport noise zones;
- recognize that sustainability, noise management and connectivity must be addressed together, not separately."

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of Aci Europe, said: "Airports have been addressing aircraft noise proactively for decades as part of their sustainability strategies. This includes encouraging the use of quieter aircraft through incentive schemes and performance-based navigation procedures, while also funding extensive noise reduction programmes. However, the fact that some governments have started to fail to comply with global standards and European legislation on noise management is an extremely serious concern, as it also appears to reflect an unjustified focus on aviation noise compared to noise emissions from other modes of transport. Ultimately, what is at stake is not just our industry, but Europe's competitiveness and global standing."

Ourania Georgoutsakou, ceo of Airlines for Europe, said: "The balanced approach ensures that all possible measures to reduce airport noise are assessed in a fair and transparent way. The increase in national and local authorities unilaterally reducing airport capacity undermines this approach and is contrary to EU legislation. A4E will continue to support fair, effective and proportionate noise mitigation initiatives."

Montserrat Barriga, Director General of the Association of Airlines of the European Regions, said: "Regional airlines are a lifeline for Europe's smaller communities, providing essential connectivity that boosts local economies and social cohesion. These sudden and uncoordinated operating restrictions, imposed without proper adherence to the 'Balanced Approach', disproportionately harm regional carriers and the communities they serve. We call on European institutions and governments to support the legal procedures already in place and ensure that decisions on noise management are balanced, evidence-based and taken in full recognition of the crucial role that regional aviation plays in Europe's transport ecosystem."

Attached below to this AVIONEWS is the English version of the note issued by Aci Europe.

On this topic, see also AVIONEWS 1, 2 and 3.