International airports in Amsterdam and London are instituting new noise abatement measures in 2020. Here is a brief look at what they entail.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) have developed a joint program to reduce noise emissions caused by air traffic and lessen its impact on surrounding communities. Measures fall into four categories: flight routes and daytime procedures, flying at night, runway use and aircraft types.

The program was developed with input from local residents, directors, the Regional Forum of the Schiphol Local Community Council, the top 20 complaints submitted to the Local Community Contact Centre Schiphol, Schiphol Airport and LVNL’s own expertise and innovations in aviation technologies and systems. "The recurring topic of discussion was that if we want to preserve the benefits of aviation, we will need to reduce the burdens," said Royal Schiphol Group CEO Dick Benschop.

The new measures include a higher approach to Runway 18R-36L at night, limiting the use of ‘non-preferred’ runways, limiting night-time take-offs from Runway 06-24 in a north-easterly direction during runway maintenance, investigating fixed approach routes during daytime hours and optimizing flight routes.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is taking a different approach to noise reduction. Beginning this year, noise charges will be higher for all flights arriving and departing during the specified Night Quota Period, between 11:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. The hope is that the higher charges will be a disincentive for activity during the night and will thereby reduce noise emissions.

Airlines making unscheduled flights within the Night Quota Period will be charged five times more than the regular daytime charges. The change comes in light of feedback from the communities closest to the airport and is in line with Heathrow's existing noise action plan.

"We believe the number of people impacted by aircraft noise will continue to reduce as we work towards a quieter, better future for Heathrow through the use of noise envelopes and our Noise Action Plan,” said Rob Gray, Heathrow Airport‘s Community and Stakeholder Engagement Director.