The airport is allowed to remain open one hour longer than in the previous permit, until midnight instead of 11:00 PM. In the long term, GAE may also open half an hour earlier on weekdays, at 6:00 AM instead of 6:30 AM, if there is enough capacity at Air Traffic Control the Netherlands. This is not yet the case.
With the extended opening hours, GAE becomes more attractive to airlines. They can then operate multiple flights in one day.
The future noise capacity remains within the agreements of the previous permit. This is because airplanes have become quieter in recent years. The usage capacity indicates how much noise departing and arriving aircraft are allowed to make per year.
The LHB contains additional enforcement points compared to the current situation. Enforcement points specify how much aircraft noise is allowed annually at a certain location. This improves the legal protection of local residents.
Rules to reduce local air pollution are also included in the LHB. By supplying electricity to the aircraft from the airport for heating or air conditioning while the aircraft is on the platform, the auxiliary power unit is needed much less. This reduces the emission of harmful substances on the platform.
“The publication of the new airport decision for Groningen Airport Eelde is a milestone,” said Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Robert Tieman. “The legal position for local residents becomes stronger, and at the same time the airport becomes more attractive to airlines. And that is good news for the economy and the region’s connectivity.”
The Ministry is making €13 million available from the Mobility Fund to improve the accessibility of the airport.
The LHB will enter into force on November 1, 2025.
