Less noise and CO₂ emissions through fleet renewal, but higher nitrogen emissions

In line with its objectives and agreements with local communities to reduce noise, Eindhoven Airport is taking steps to renew its aircraft fleet. This is the most important instrument for reducing noise levels. The newest generation of aircraft is also more fuelefficient and produces lower CO₂ emissions. Eindhoven Airport aims to further reduce these emissions. However, a number of aircraft in the new fleet, equipped with specific engine types, do emit higher levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Eindhoven Airport applied for a nature permit in 2020. In response, the airport received a socalled positive refusal of the nature permit in 2024, including a tailormade regulation with an emission cap for nitrogen emissions. This cap was set at a maximum of 143,795 kilograms of nitrogen emissions per year caused by aviationrelated activities. The airport was also required to report annually on its nitrogen emissions from 2025 onwards.

As expected, the tailormade regulation for 2025 proves to be insufficient due to fleet renewal. Eindhoven Airport exceeds the nitrogen emission cap by 3.6 percent. Partly due to the increase in nitrogen emissions resulting from fleet renewal, the airport applied for a nature permit in early 2026 for approximately 25% additional nitrogen emission capacity. External nitrogen offsetting was applied in this case. As a result, the negative effects on nature caused by the increase in nitrogen emissions have already been mitigated.

Eindhoven Airport hopes that the requested nature permit will be granted as soon as possible. This is essential to continue to properly connect the rapidly growing and increasingly international Brainport region. The airport also considers it very important that the government takes steps to free the Netherlands from the current nitrogen impasse, so that other companies and sectors can also move forward.

Read the report on nitrogen emissions in 2025 (in Dutch) here.