Ecolo has criticised the operation permit for Charleroi Airport, labelling it as a “noise dump” project that is both “economically absurd and irresponsible for local residents and public health.”
The Walloon government agreed on 17 July to extend Charleroi Airport’s activities for the next 20 years and implement its Master Plan, which does not include a cap on flight numbers.
Ecolo, in opposition, argues that the government is dismissing the Walloon administration’s suggestion of capping annual flights at 70,200 by 2031, marking an increase of 20,400 flights from 2019 levels. “By 2045, based on the impact study, air traffic could increase by 67%, from 49,800 to 83,000 annual movements!” exclaimed the Green party.
Jean-Jacques Cloquet, former CEO of BSCA and current regional deputy for Les Engagés, had previously stated that aiming for 15 million passengers was a mistake given climate challenges. This warning has been ignored by the current management, explained Walloon deputy Veronica Cremasco in a statement.
Ecolo asserts that even with the envisaged noise quota reforms, the permit “provides no sufficient guarantees against late flights.”
“This permit impacts the future of an entire region and cannot be drafted in opacity, illegality, and climate denial. Charleroi Airport must not become Wallonia’s noise and environmental dump,” concluded co-president Marie Lecocq.
