Aircraft Noise Report 2024

More and more people are using BER

The busiest days in 2024 in terms of flight movements were:

• Monday, July 15, the day after the UEFA Euro final (west operation, 699 flights), and
• Friday, October 18, the start of the autumn holidays (east operation, 707 flights).
• The number of passengers rose to 25.5 million (+10% compared to 2023)
• The number of flights increased to 191,718 (+8% compared to 2023)

Active noise protection through innovation

FBB’s goal is to ensure regional connectivity while keeping aircraft noise to a minimum. To achieve this, FBB implements various measures:

• At BER, the noise of every single flight is measured, and noise-based charges are applied accordingly. Quieter flights are thus directly rewarded financially.
• Since 2023, FBB has recommended a steeper departure procedure (NADP 1) for all airlines. This procedure enables aircraft to gain altitude more quickly, reducing noise on the ground.

Measures are having an impact

• Airlines are switching to more modern and quieter aircraft models. The share of next-generation aircraft (e.g., A320neo, Boeing 787) reached 25% in 2024 (up from 19% in 2023).
• In 2024, 17 airlines adopted the steeper departure procedure, which was used in more than half of all takeoffs.
  The effectiveness of these measures is measurable: The average peak noise level of departing aircraft fell by 0.4 dB compared to 2023 (–1.1 dB compared to 2022). Despite a significantly higher number of flights, the continuous sound level in the surrounding region rose only slightly (+0.3 dB during the day, +0.4 dB at night).

Dense measurement network ensures transparency

There are 31 permanent and two mobile noise monitoring stations around BER. Results are published monthly on the website, and long-term trends are tracked over the years. Real-time measurements are available via TraVis: https://travisber.topsonic.aero/

A comparison between earlier forecasts and actual measured noise levels shows that aircraft noise is lower than expected. For example, the forecast had assumed a continuous daytime noise level of 60 dB throughout the entire day protection zone. However, in 2024, this value was significantly undercut at measurement stations 18 in Diedersdorf and 19 in Müggelheim—by 7.9 dB and 6.6 dB, respectively.

Night flight ban clearly regulated

The Federal Administrative Court has set a maximum "night traffic number" to limit flight movements between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This number does not refer to the absolute number of flights. Instead, flights between 11:30 p.m. and midnight, as well as between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m., count double in order to offer extra protection during these sensitive times. In 2024, only 37% of the permitted night traffic number was used. Additional night-time surcharges—up to six times the regular fee—further protect nighttime quiet.

Read the full report here (in german): Aircraft Noise Report 2024

The information published on this page corresponds to the status on the date of publication or update.