As previously reported, a court ruling in 2014 required the airport to go through a plan approval procedure. Through the planning process, the airport wants to ensure that existing and and future building extensions have a legal basis.

Afflicted by nighttime aircraft noise, residents and various associations objected to expansion. In one group alone, around 14,000 citizens banded together against airport expansion. Critics fear that any extensions of the airport would lead to more air traffic and more noise. For its part, the airport contradicts that argument, saying it wants to improve operational procedures above all.

A majority of the Commission on Aircraft Noise voted to reject the proposed plans for airport expansion. Chairwoman of the panel, Claudi Wieja said a different decision would only be reached when a worthy concept for noise reduction had been submitted and implemented by the airport.

The commission also asked that earlier extensions of the airport, which were implemented without a plan approval procedure, be included in the environmental impact assessment. The committee also demanded the introduction of a passenger night flight ban between midnight and 5 am.

The state government had focused on this issue in 2012, but then submitted its legal concerns to the federal government. That is why Cologne/Bonn still allows cargo and passenger aircraft to land around the clock. It has a night flight permit until 2030. Critics of this situation call for a comprehensive plan for the airport which goes much further than the current regulation. They believe calculations would prove the harmful affects of night-time noise and lead to restrictions.

(Orig. text: Dominik Pieper, Translation: ck)