Quieter planes could cut congestion, say international airlines

The Board of Airlines Representatives of Australia says Sydney airport could ‘choke’ in the next decade.

The Productivity Commission has been urged to review noise management at Sydney Airport.

International airlines have called on the Productivity Commission to review the existing noise management arrangements for Sydney Airport, saying newer, quieter aircraft and better use of airspace would help ease congestion at the nation’s busiest airport.

In a new policy document titled “Safe and efficient air navigation services”, the Board of Airlines Representatives of Australia says the continued trajectory of passenger growth through Sydney will choke the international airport over the next decade.

The report says traffic from international aviation to and from Australia has grown strongly over the past 10 years and that passenger numbers have increased on average by 5 per cent annually to nearly 34 million passengers in 2014-15 and freight volumes have increased by more than 30 per cent in the same period.

Over the same time, international flights have increased on ­average by 4.2 per cent annually to about 175,000 flights in 2014-15.

Airport infrastructure and airspace around Australia’s major airports, and in particular Sydney Airport, has become increasingly congested, the report says.

“Congestion manifests either through ‘airborne holding’ or ‘ground holding’ delays, which reduce service quality to passengers and businesses and increase costs,” the report says.

BARA says it supports the recommendations of the Joint Study on Aviation Capacity in the ­Sydney Region, including a proposal to review the current operational restrictions at Sydney Airport, with the aim of determining more effective measures of aircraft noise impacts and improve congestion.

“A public inquiry by the Productivity Commission would be one way to proceed,” the report says.

“BARA considers any new arrangements should offer greater operational flexibility for new-generation, quieter aircraft, consistent with encouraging the operation of such aircraft at Sydney Airport.”

BARA says there is untapped potential for better noise management for the residents of Sydney if airspace was redesigned to allow more flexible approach and departure flight paths.

It also says a greater reliance on satellite-based landing systems and use of quieter and more fuel-efficient aircraft will also reduce community and environmental impacts.