Vienna airport plans curved night approaches, towns fear more noise

Vienna-Schwechat Airport plans to introduce more curved night approaches from 2027, saying the routes could reduce overall aircraft noise. But residents and officials in Groß-Enzersdorf fear some communities may face more noise, ORF reported.

The satellite-based navigation procedure would allow aircraft arriving from the north to avoid densely populated areas where possible. Curved night approaches are already used on runway 29; the plan is to extend them to runway 16.

Austro Control, the air traffic control provider, says the PBN-to-ILS procedure is expected to begin in the first half of 2027. It had initially been scheduled for late 2026, but final approval and technical preparations are still needed.

The route is planned for use between 11.30pm and 5.30am, when traffic is lighter. Austro Control says 12 to 15 aircraft land on runway 16 during those hours each night.

Published noise calculations indicate that fewer people would live within certain flight-noise zones under the new procedures than under the current straight-in approach. Austro Control has not provided figures for how many people would be relieved of noise or newly affected in practice.

The Citizens’ Initiative for Noise Protection in the Groß-Enzersdorf Municipality says the routes could shift noise from more densely populated areas to individual villages. Adolf Obrist of the initiative said the intensity, duration and frequency of individual events were what disturbed residents and interrupted sleep.

The initiative is particularly concerned about a second planned option, called RNP AR, which would allow a more sharply curved approach. It believes Oberhausen, Mühlleiten, Franzensdorf and Rutzendorf, all in Gänserndorf district, could face additional noise. Austro Control has not set a launch date for this procedure.

The initiative is calling for a full ban on night flights, with exceptions only for emergencies. Obrist also pointed to the shorter distances between the planned flight paths and residential areas.

Groß-Enzersdorf Mayor Monika Obereigner-Sivec said changes to the routes could ease noise in some parts of the municipality while increasing it in others. She said villages east of the town, starting with Oberhausen, would be more affected.

The municipality, which is a member of the Vienna Airport Dialogue Forum, has called for a detailed assessment and further improvements, including to departure routes and night-flight rules. Obereigner-Sivec said modern approach procedures could eventually ease the burden on parts of the town that are currently particularly affected.

Austro Control assessed the planned routes using noise simulations and population data. The published information also refers to an assumed maximum level of 80 decibels, but that does not establish that the level would actually be reached in any particular village.