AeroLogic (3S, Leipzig/Halle) and DHL Express have been caught up in a political dispute between the Belgian federal and Flemish governments over the use of B777 freighters on night-time flights to/from Brussels National, according to Belgian news reports.
Flemish minister Ben Weyts intends to challenge a recent measure that would prohibit AeroLogic, a joint venture between DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo, from operating its B777-200Fs at the airport, the Belgian broadcaster BX1 Médias de Bruxelles reported. Weyts claims that the federal minister for mobility, Georges Gilkinet, "secretly" ended an exception permitting DHL to use these aircraft for night flights at Brussels National. Consequently, DHL must now use smaller aircraft like the A300-600F for night operations, which Weyts claims could increase noise pollution by up to 60%. The Flemish government, which oversees the airport, prefers to keep the larger B777s in operation.
Weyts plans to urge the Flemish administration to file a conflict of interest action against Gilkinet’s instruction. He claims his counterpart ignored a direct request from Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to reconsider his decision.
Flemish interior minister Gwendolyn Rutten, on social media, underscored the importance for the Flemish economy for DHL to continue to use the B777. "If Gilkinet does not withdraw his instruction, we will invoke the conflict of interest from Flanders. It is really ‘not done’ to play green games at the expense of our economy and employment," she said.
Meanwhile, Gilkinet confirmed he issued an instruction on July 24 to enforce the use of quieter, environmentally efficient aircraft to ensure a sustainable future for the Brussels airport and minimise the noise impact on residents. He justified the measure by citing an alleged longstanding "illegal" practice in which the companies had used freighters that exceeded the noise quota limit stipulated by a 2004 decree on noise pollution at the airport, the newspaper Le Soir reported.
Gilkinet claimed to have had regular meetings with DHL since June 2021 to find ways for the company to comply with noise regulations but alleged that no viable proposals were made.
On inquiry, a DHL Group spokesperson confirmed that Gilkinet was considering withdrawing "the authorisation we have had for over ten years - this is not a general ban on night flights but on night flights with the B777F. [...] If this were to happen, it would mean that DHL would no longer be able to operate flights with Boeing B777F aircraft from Brussels Airport during night operations. In this case, we would be forced to use other, less modern aircraft, which would indeed be a greater nuisance to local residents. The B777F is the most modern and quietest widebody freight aircraft currently available on the world market."
ch-aviation has contacted AeroLogic for comment. Brussels National Airport declined to comment.
As previously reported, the Belgian ombudsman reported more than 1,500 violations of night-flight rules at Brussels National last year. AeroLogic was cited 149 times for using a B777-200F.
