The Netherlands

Eindhoven Airport to ban private jets from 2026

Eindhoven Airport is banning all private jets from 2026 in an effort to meet CO2 emission and noise nuisance goals.

In a statement issued on Tuesday (7th November), CEO Roel Hellemons said: "We’d already committed to considerable noise abatement by 2030. But simply curbing noise is not enough. We also feel responsible for significantly reducing CO2 emissions from our air traffic. Making aviation more sustainable in Europe is ambitious and attainable. By implementing these additional measures, we’re demonstrating that we’re really accelerating the pace."

The airport is targeting 30% less noise exposure and 30% fewer CO2 emissions in 2030 than in 2019.

To meet these targets there will be no more fossil-fuel or other private flights as from 1st January 2026, and only latest-generation aircraft will be allowed by 2030.

In addition, the airport will cap the number of flights at 40,500 per year in 2026 and 2027 and monitor according to noise standards instead of the number of flights as from 2028.

The statement continued:

"As private flights have a relatively large noise and CO2 footprint per passenger and only marginally meet our region’s mobility needs, we have decided not to allow them at Eindhoven Airport as from 2026. If opportunities arise for sustainable small-plane aviation (such as electric flying) that adds value to the region, we would want to facilitate that."

Introducing the departure procedure with the least noise pollution for the immediate surroundings as soon as possible

A process to choose a departure procedure (the way in which aircraft take off and climb to flight altitude) is ongoing in consultation with the Eindhoven Airport Consultative Structure (LEO). That choice will be laid down in the Eindhoven Airport regulatory enforcement decision. Eindhoven Airport supports the departure procedure with the least noise pollution for the immediate surroundings. We want to introduce this as soon as possible. As far as we are concerned, there is no need to wait for the new airport regulatory enforcement decision.

Only latest-generation aircraft at Eindhoven Airport by 2030

By 2030, we will only allow latest-generation aircraft (like the Airbus A320 NEO and Boeing 737 MAX) at Eindhoven Airport. This means 100% fleet renewal by 2030, thus meeting the target of 30% noise abatement by 2030 compared to 2019, while also reducing CO2 emissions. It could also give the airport room to develop even better regional connections.

Introducing a higher blending requirement for sustainable aircraft fuel at Eindhoven Airport and a financial contribution from Eindhoven Airport for airlines refuelling with this fuel

It is not only important to abate noise. Reducing CO2 emissions is at least as important. Through fleet renewal, operational measures (including a review of airspace in Europe) and blending Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) with kerosene, we will achieve our target of a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030.

The more SAF is blended, the lower the CO2 emissions from air traffic. But SAF is about four times more expensive than kerosene. At Eindhoven Airport, we are preparing a higher blending requirement than is currently required by law. We also want to encourage airlines to blend more than 20% of the kerosene they buy at Eindhoven Airport. That’s why we make an annual amount available to airlines to help cover the costs from any additional blending. For 2024, this figure is half a million euros.