Five more leading transport and aviation associations join call to effectively enforce Noise Balanced Approach
Brussels, 18 June 2026: Five more transport and aviation organisations have joined the Athens Declaration & Call for Action – first launched by ACI EUROPE, A4E and ERA in June last year – urging immediate and decisive action to ensure the full and consistent application of the Noise Balanced Approach regulation.
The new signatories include the European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics, and Customs Services (CLECAT), European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), European Express Association (EEA), Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation Europe (CANSO Europe) and Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD).
Their joining marks a clear alignment amongst the transport industry regarding the need to protect air connectivity and its unique role in boosting EU competitiveness and strategic autonomy.
The Athens Declaration & Call to Action follows a number of cases in which EU Member States have disregarded the globally agreed framework of the ICAO Balanced Approach to Aircraft Noise Management. The Noise Balanced Approach is a mandatory procedure under EU law for Member States to follow. It involves assessing the noise situation at major airports and evaluating the full range of available mitigation measures. Those measures fall into four key pillars: (1) reduction of noise at source, (2) land‑use and planning management, (3) noise abatement operational procedures and (4) operating restrictions. The latter may only be implemented as a last resort. However, several governments have moved to directly impose operating restrictions, effectively bypassing the Noise Balanced Approach through ad hoc and subjective decisions. Such politically‑driven decisions threaten air connectivity which provides a wide range of socioeconomic benefits, supporting 14 million jobs and 5% of European GDP1.
With this Declaration, Europe’s airports, airline operators (passenger, cargo and business), express delivery companies, freight forwarders, manufacturers and air navigation service providers are calling for:
- The full and consistent implementation of the EU Balanced Approach Regulation (EU) No 598/2014 across Europe, with operating restrictions used only as a last resort after all other mitigation measures have been put in place and maximised in terms of noise reduction potential;
- The European Commission to strengthen enforcement of EU Regulation 598/2014, provide clearer guidance to Member States and support globally consistent noise management through ICAO;
- Governments across Europe to ensure noise management decisions are evidence-based, transparent and balanced against the wider socioeconomic value of air connectivity and cargo operations; and
- A more integrated and forward‑looking approach that balances airport capacity, connectivity, sustainability, and noise management, whilst safeguarding the free movement of passengers and goods.
Enrico Parini, Director of Europe Affairs, CANSO Europe, noted “CANSO calls on governments to respect the ICAO Balanced Approach so that not only noise is acknowledged around airports but also environmentally effective routing, to which ANSPs are committed. We are therefore endorsing the Athens Declaration.”
Fragmented and inconsistent noise policies must not be allowed to weaken Europe’s air connectivity or hinder the long-term strength of its aviation sector – both of which are essential to the continent’s competitiveness, global influence, and strategic autonomy.
Access theAthens Declaration & Call to Action here.
