The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility is seeking to update the Noise Action Plan for Ibiza airport and works on mitigation measures. and works on mitigation measures.
In October 2024, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility published the Noise Action Plan for Ibiza Airport, jointly by Aena, Aesa and Enaire, based on the update of the Ibiza Airport Strategic Noise Map, which had been prepared with traffic data for the year 2021. The main objective of the Plan is to establish the necessary measures to “reduce the environmental noise produced by airport operations and thereby achieve a reduction in the population exposed to it, in addition to preserving quiet areas, contributing to achieving the European reduction targets established for the 2030 horizon in the action plan for zero pollution,” as detailed. In general terms, it has four lines of action: “Reduction of noise at the source; Planning and Management of land use; Operational procedures for noise attenuation; and Other measures of Commitment to the environment”. This plan has been submitted to public information, sending it for consultation to the various public administrations. Therefore, from the General Directorate of Urban Harmonization and Environmental Assessment of the Govern has responded to this consultation with a series of technical considerations on the Ministry’s plan. This response from the Govern’s environmental body to the Ministry’s consultation does not include any request, but rather evaluates different possibilities within a study of alternatives. There it is proposed to “study/analyze” the possibility of establishing operational restrictions, such as limiting the access of the noisiest aircraft or not allowing these aircraft to operate at night. The Department of Housing, Territory and Mobility has clarified to La Voz de Ibiza that “it is not as such a request to adopt such measures but to analyze them, along with the other measures proposed, in order to reduce noise impacts, as intended by the Ministry. These are technical considerations to minimize the effects, but always ensuring the connectivity of residents“. The possibility of operating restrictions due to noise has been raised at a general level by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as a last alternative “if other noise reduction measures have not been successful”, as stated in the Ministry’s plan, which also specifies that “it is not foreseen that operating restrictions will be implemented for Phase IV with a 2028 horizon“.
Allegations
The Ministry’s Plan recalls that “Ibiza airport has in force a noise tax system in order to discourage the use of the noisiest aircraft, by applying penalties on the amount of the landing fee for civil subsonic jet aircraft, depending on the time slot, and the acoustic classification of each aircraft”. In this sense, it highlights that “this measure has promoted the renewal of the fleet since its implementation, however, the evolution of the fleet and the time elapsed since its implementation make it currently ineffective, since the aircraft that are penalized practically do not operate at the airport today”. Therefore, among the allegations made in the technical considerations, the Government states that “it could study/analyze the establishment of operational restrictions due to noise at Ibiza airport, both in limiting the access of certain aircraft (the noisiest ones) to the airport and reducing its operational capacity (not allowing them to operate at night)“. On the other hand, the current system stipulates that “standard STAR CORDA1S, TOLSO2S, VARUT2Y noise attenuation arrivals”, avoiding overflight of the interior of the island, should preferably be carried out at night. In this sense, the Noise Action Plan suggests maintaining this practice and integrating it into the planned awareness campaigns, aimed at both airlines and air traffic controllers. However, the Balearic Government, in its document of allegations, proposes extending this measure to daytime hours at times of low demand.
