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Jetairfly refuses to pay noise fines
The Brussels-Capital Region is proposing a €3 million fine against Belgian airline Jetairfly for exceeding noise limits. The airline is refusing to pay the fines, because they are “fundamentally unjust”, the company’s chief executive Elie Bruyninckx told La Libre Belgique.
The region is penalizing Jetairfly for violating the noise limits set out in a Brussels ordinance, but according to Bruyninckx there is more behind the penalties: "We are the victim of a political discussion,” he says. “I understand that there is tension between Flanders and Brussels, but… I am a Belgian entrepreneur; I am neutral in this conflict. And now they want to punish a company that has been adding value to the city for 10 years. "
Bruyninckx calls for an end to conflicting regulations. "Our pilots strictly follow the routes imposed by Belgocontrol, and then we get fined for it. In other countries this is unheard of."
Comments
This is hardly good publicity for Jetair... The situation is indeed absurd, but they should themselves reject routes that are imposed by Belgocontrol and will get them into a situation where they will have to pay fines - because the fines are no surprise, of course. Obviously Jetair's position must be to tell Belgocontrol/the Belgian Government they will follow the routes if they are imposed, but will necessarily bill Belgocontrol for any fine they incur at the hands of the Brussels Regional Authority because of routes imposed by Belgocontrol. I am quite certain Jetair and other companies can jointly find a barrister who will help them out in their dealings with Belgocontrol. Now that a court has rejected and annulled the Wathelet plan is hardly the time to say you will not respect legislation against noise pollution taken on regional level, as it has implicitly been endorsed by the court's decision... Jetair could also adapt they departure times so as not to fly low (and cheap) over Brussels that early in the morning, since the money they save on the one hand they lose on the other...