Belgian government seeks commitment from DHL to help reduce noise pollution

The government and international shipper DHL continued to struggle Wednesday to find a compromise that would keep the courier service’s European hub and thousands of jobs in Brussels while keeping noisy night flights within acceptable limits.

The government insisted Wednesday that DHL use quieter planes for intercontinental flights after newspaper reports suggested that the courier would keep using its older, noisier aircraft.

The issue has gained center stage over the past two weeks because it highlights the struggle within the government to meet its commitment to increase employment in Belgium, even if doing so may come at the cost of more environmental damage.

In the quest for a compromise, Vice-Premier Johan Vande Lanotte said the government will send DHL a letter Wednesday asking for a commitment to use less noisy planes.

For days, regional authorities have been unsuccessfully negotiating over whose territory the proposed increase in night flights should go.

The international parcel service is considering moving its hub out of Belgium, either to Leipzig, Germany or Vatry, France, if it cannot increase night flights. That could cost Belgium at least 1,800 jobs.

The company provides direct and indirect employment for about 5,800 people.

Many who live near the capital’s Zaventem airport object to the aircraft noise and have gone to court to get DHL and airport authorities to cut the number of night flights.

The government last week proposed a compromise that would increase night flights by 3,000 a year, but noise would be reduced since DHL would modernize its fleet.