The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has come out against a proposed ban on night flights at Brussels Airport. The association argues that the ban would have a negative impact on the Belgian economy and air connectivity. IATA says that the ban would disproportionately affect cargo flights, which are an important part of the Belgian economy. Belgium is a major exporter of pharmaceuticals, and many of those exports are shipped by air. A night flight ban would make it more difficult and expensive to ship those goods, which could have a negative impact on the Belgian economy.
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The ban would also have a negative impact on air connectivity. Brussels Airport is a major hub for flights to Africa, and a night flight ban would make it more difficult for airlines to connect passengers to those destinations. This could have a negative impact on trade and tourism between Belgium and Africa. IATA says that the Belgian government should scrap the proposed ban and instead engage in meaningful consultation with stakeholders. The association says that there are other ways to address noise pollution from airplanes, such as using quieter aircraft and investing in noise insulation.
The proposed night flight ban is currently being reviewed by the Belgian government. It is not clear whether the ban will be implemented. In addition to the arguments made by IATA, there are a number of other reasons why the proposed night flight ban should be scrapped. The ban would have a negative impact on the jobs of thousands of people who work at Brussels Airport and in the surrounding area.
The ban would make it more difficult for people to travel to and from Brussels, which could have a negative impact on tourism and business. The ban would be inconsistent with Belgium's international obligations under the Balanced Approach to noise, which is an internationally agreed-upon framework for managing airport noise impacts. The Belgian government should listen to the concerns of the people who would be affected by the proposed night flight ban and scrap this misguided proposal.