The Brussels-Capital Region has decided to take legal action against the way Brussels Airport uses one of its main approach routes, arguing that the concentration of flights over densely populated neighborhoods has produced unacceptable levels of noise.
At the center of the dispute is the RNP-07 satellite-guided approach procedure, introduced on a trial basis in September 2025 for landings on runway 07L. Brussels authorities worry the route could be made permanent without proper consultation of the municipalities and residents living beneath it.
Following a proposal from regional minister Ans Persoons, the regional government plans to seek a court injunction, one that could ultimately expose the Belgian state to financial penalties if flights on the route keep breaching Brussels noise standards.
The scale of the impact is significant. A study carried out by the Université libre de Bruxelles found that more than 270,000 residents are affected by noise linked to the route, a figure that climbs to roughly 400,000 once the parallel approach path serving runway 07R is included.
Regional noise monitoring data cited in the case put the scale of the problem in stark terms, with 96 percent of flights using the route reported to exceed Brussels noise limits.
Several municipalities, including Koekelberg, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean and Schaerbeek, had already signaled they were prepared to challenge the route in court on their own, and the regional government is now inviting them to join its case rather than pursue separate actions.