Noise protection:

New opportunity to have a say in flight routes

Citizens now have the opportunity to get directly involved in the design of flight routes.

(Bild: P. Huber)

Citizens now have the opportunity to have a direct say in the design of flight routes, the Ministry of Transport and Climate Protection announced on Sunday. Suggestions for improvements to existing approach and take-off routes as well as comments on new or amended routes can be submitted online to Austro Control. The aim is to achieve a "fair balance between the interests" of the noisy population, aviation and passengers.

High noise pollution impairs quality of life and health. For this reason, airports are obliged to charge higher fees for noisy aircraft from this year onwards, according to the department.

"More quality of life"
"With the new participation concept, citizens can now take part in determining the arrival and departure routes to and from the airport for the first time. This increases public participation in the handling of air traffic and creates more transparency," said Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens). Those affected are thus better informed and more involved: "This public participation also enables us to increase the avoidance of noise and improve quality of life."

The new participation procedure starts today, Sunday. Austro Control will evaluate the concerns submitted in terms of structure and feasibility, and the process and decision will be documented in a comprehensible manner.

The company wants to make its work in handling air traffic "even more transparent, give citizens the opportunity to actively participate in this process and make concrete suggestions for improvement", said Managing Directors Valerie Hackl and Philipp Piber.