Aircraft noise performance at European airports

As the latest aircraft technology gradually penetrates the European fleet, its environmental performance is expected to improve over time.

shows the share of EU27+EFTA operations by aircraft cumulative margin45 to Chapter 3 noise limits. During 2021, only 1.9% of operations were by marginally compliant Chapter 3 aircraft, while 50% of operations were by Chapter 14 compliant aircraft.


45‘Cumulative margin’ is the figure expressed in EPNdB obtained by adding the individual margins (i.e. the differences between the certificated noise level and the maximum permitted noise level) at each of the three reference noise measurement points in Chapter 3. See also figure 3.3 in Technology and Design chapter.