News item | 28-10-2025 | 1:00 PM
The airport decision (LHB) for Groningen Airport Eelde (GAE) was published on October 28. The new LHB not only strengthens the legal protection of local residents, but also the connection between the Northern Netherlands and the rest of Europe.
The airport may remain open an hour longer than under the previous permit, until midnight instead of 11 p.m. In the long term, GAE may also open half an hour earlier during the week, at 6 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m., if there is enough capacity for this at Air Traffic Control the Netherlands. That is not yet the case.
With the extended opening hours, GAE becomes more attractive to airlines. They can then operate multiple flights in one day.
The future noise space remains within the agreements in the former permit. This is because aircraft have become quieter in recent years. The usable space indicates how much noise departing and landing aircraft are allowed to make per year.
The LHB contains additional enforcement points compared to the current situation. Enforcement points determine how much aircraft noise is permitted annually at a certain location. This is an improvement in the legal protection of local residents.
Rules for reducing local air pollution are also included in the LHB. By supplying the aircraft with electricity from the airport for, for example, heating or air conditioning while the aircraft is on the platform, the auxiliary engine is needed much less. This reduces the emission of harmful substances on the platform.
“The publication of the new airport decision for Groningen Airport Eelde is a milestone,” said Minister of Infrastructure Robert Tieman. “The legal position for local residents will become more robust, and at the same time the airport will become more attractive for airlines. And that is good news for the economy and the connectivity of the region.”
The ministry is making 13 million euros available from the Mobility Fund to improve the accessibility of the airport.
The LHB comes into effect on November 1.