Belgium given space over noisy plane restrictions

Date: 01/08/02

By Peter Chapman

THE European Commission has postponed legal action against Belgium over its refusal to revoke a law restricting noisy American planes.

Instead, commissioners have allowed Belgian Transport Minister Isabelle Durant longer to argue her case or drop the ban.

Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio's department had earlier indicated that the Belgian law - that limits night flights of older aircraft fitted with noise mufflers - was a clear breach of the EU's decision to drop restrictions on 'hush-kitted' planes following pressure from Washington.

The US has already launched a case against Belgium, with US officials saying its night-time ban runs counter to an agreement by the International Civilian Aviation Organisation in October 2001 and the European directive transposing this into EU law.

The European Commission has postponed legal action against Belgium over its refusal to revoke a law restricting noisy American planes.