Overview
- Local councils and the Kommission zur Abwehr des Fluglärms met on Wednesday to assess a revised operating concept that would route more departures from the center runway toward the Taunus.
- Fraport says the change responds to projected growth in movements to about 560,000 takeoffs and landings by 2033 and would not create new routes but shift existing departure patterns.
- The revision adds measures including a ban on northwest starts before 06:00 with avoidance until 07:00 if possible, keeping Startbahn West as the main departure runway, incentives for quieter aircraft and extra funds for noise protection.
- Hesse’s ministry judged the submission consistent with the planfeststellungsbeschluss and said the change redistributes noise rather than increasing the total number of people affected, while DFS and the federal supervisory authority must still complete technical checks and the current rules remain in force through at least 2028.
- Communities such as Flörsheim and Hattersheim‑Eddersheim warn of higher local noise, are considering legal steps and will monitor impacts closely, a shift that could relieve some towns south of the airport but concentrate burdens in the northwest.