The Walloon Government, on the initiative of Minister Cécile Neven, this week adopted a series of ambitious measures to guarantee the economic development of Charleroi Airport while protecting the living environment of local residents. A balanced reform, true to the commitments of the Mouvement Réformateur.
Less noise at sensitive times
From 2026, the noisiest aircraft will no longer be able to take off or land between 10pm and 11pm, or between 6.30am and 7am. The permitted maximum noise quota (QM) is being reduced, except for long-haul flights, to support the diversification of services at the airport site.
The Government also clarifies and restricts the acceptable reasons for delay and the conditions permitting late returns (after 11pm) of aircraft based at Charleroi Airport.
An overall noise cap
An overall quota of points, shared between airlines, will limit late arrivals after 11pm. This cap will be gradually reduced: 3,500 points in 2026, 2,000 points in 2045. A monitoring committee will oversee and adapt the system to take technological developments into account.
More deterrent penalties
The amount of fines for noise breaches is being significantly increased: from €800 to €10,000 per offence, indexed. A clear signal to ensure compliance with the standards.