Post by andypspotter on May 15, 2017 21:38:38 GMT
ACG Air Cargo Global (CW, Bratislava) is pulling out of Brussels National over strict new regulations to control noise, airport officials have announced. The Slovakian cargo carrier will now operate from Prague and Amsterdam. Chinese freighter Yangtze River Express (Y8, Shanghai Hongqiao) has already withdrawn from the airport, and freight forwarder Magma Aviation has signalled that it may be next if the rules remain unchanged.
The airport is strongly opposed to the fines which were imposed by the Brussels Capital Region. It says that in 2016, the cargo carried by Yangtze and Air Cargo Global was 12% of its total volume, with their withdrawal representing a serious blow to its operations.
The policy is not actually a new set of rules, but the strict enforcement of noise restrictions which were legislated in 1999. The zero tolerance policy came into effect on April 22, 2017, with financial penalties for aircraft which exceed nine decibels during the day and six at night. As a concession to industry pressure, the Belgian government has postponed the collection of fines, although not the issuing of them. CEO of Brussels Airport Company, Arnaud Feist, says that this actually makes the situation worse.
"This decision may have been made with good intentions, but it actually creates a period of uncertainty of one and a half to two years," Feist said, adding that it will lead airlines to relocate operations. "I call on all political parties concerned to halt the downward spiral that destroys the local and regional economic fabric in Belgium and reach a solution as soon as possible."
Air Cargo Belgium, which represents the air cargo community, has said the policy are a "knife to the throat" of the industry.
The airport is strongly opposed to the fines which were imposed by the Brussels Capital Region. It says that in 2016, the cargo carried by Yangtze and Air Cargo Global was 12% of its total volume, with their withdrawal representing a serious blow to its operations.
The policy is not actually a new set of rules, but the strict enforcement of noise restrictions which were legislated in 1999. The zero tolerance policy came into effect on April 22, 2017, with financial penalties for aircraft which exceed nine decibels during the day and six at night. As a concession to industry pressure, the Belgian government has postponed the collection of fines, although not the issuing of them. CEO of Brussels Airport Company, Arnaud Feist, says that this actually makes the situation worse.
"This decision may have been made with good intentions, but it actually creates a period of uncertainty of one and a half to two years," Feist said, adding that it will lead airlines to relocate operations. "I call on all political parties concerned to halt the downward spiral that destroys the local and regional economic fabric in Belgium and reach a solution as soon as possible."
Air Cargo Belgium, which represents the air cargo community, has said the policy are a "knife to the throat" of the industry.