Brussels Airport publishes 2025 noise contour report

Brussels Airport continuously carries out measurements to map the noise impact around the airport. You can view these measurements here. In addition, the airport also has noise contours calculated annually by an independent recognised noise expert.  The full 2025 report is now available and can be found here. 

The annual report is conducted in accordance with the general VLAREM regulations for airports, complemented by extra provisions included in the environmental permit. The size and location of the noise contours are determined by various factors:

• Number of aircraft movements: The number of commercial aircraft movements in 2025 increased by 2.8% compared to 2024, reaching 198,370. In addition, there were 5,777 exempted movements (such as state and military flights). Despite this growth, the total number of movements remains 12.9% lower than in 2019.

• Time period: The largest increase was observed during the daytime period (07h00-19h00), with a rise of 3.2%. In the evening (19h00-23h00) and night (23h00-07h00), increases of 1.8% and 2.1% were recorded, respectively.

• Runway use and route use: There was a higher occurrence of easterly winds in 2025, which meant that the preferential runway system could be applied less frequently by the air traffic controller skeyes. In addition, the closure of runway 07R/25L for renovation during the summer period also played a role. As of July 2025, the satellite-based RNP landing route on runway 07L is back in use.

• Aircraft fleet: As in previous years, the share of modern, and therefore more noise-efficient, aircraft continues to increase, both for short- and medium-haul flights and for long-haul flights.

Results of noise contour calculations

The resulting L_den noise contours of 45 dB and 55 dB for the years 2019 (green), 2024 (red), and 2025 (blue) are shown in the figure below:

 

Figure: L_den noise contours of 45 and 50 dB(A) for the years 2019, 2024, and 2025.

The area within the L_den 45 dB noise contour increased by 2.9% in 2025, rising from 53,203 ha in 2024 to 54,724 ha in 2025. This area is 4.9% smaller than in 2019.

As a result, the number of potentially highly annoyed people within the L_den 55 dB(A) noise contour also increased by 7.4% compared to 2024, reaching 14,305 in 2025 (13,323 potentially highly annoyed people in 2024).

The evolution of population density within these contour zones also plays a role. With a constant population compared to the previous year, the number of people potentially highly annoyed in 2025 would have been 0.9% lower.