Environmental Protection
Flughafen Bern AG is concerned with promoting sustainable aviation and in assuming their entrepreneurial, ecological and social responsibilities.
Flughafen Bern AG is well aware of the potential environmental impacts that an airport can have on local natural surroundings, wildlife and habitats and water courses. We work daily to keep any effects on the airport surroundings to a minimum and to observe the appropriate legal requirements. Berne airport endeavours to maintain a balance between economic requirements as well as ecological and social demands related to public concerns regarding environmental qualities. We believe that a sustainable, environmentally concerned corporate management is in the best interests of our company.
Our central environmental concerns at Bern Airport:
- Climate protection and appropriate use of energy sources
- Air quality
- Water and soil quality
- Aircraft noise abatement
Climate protection & energy sourcing
Flughafen Bern AG aims to reduce its carbon dioxide CO2 emissions to net zero by the year 2035. We focus on measures to reduce our energy consumption, enhance our efficiency and move beyond the use of fossil fuels. Flughafen Bern AG has already inaugurated rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and has plans to build more such PV systems with an aim to completely covering its own electricity needs out of solar energy. We are also committed to a solar energy partnership designed to not only cover the airport energy needs but also become a key partner in an environment-friendly energy supply for the local region. Click on BelpmoosSolar to see more on this subject.
Air quality
Bern Airport raises a carbon-emissions-based taxation on aircraft landing fees. Taxation levels depend on the degree of aircraft engine emission. This environmental taxation was introduced by the Swiss Federal Council for all Swiss airports with a view to encourage the use of less polluting aircraft engine technology. Flughafen Bern AG has installed an electric charger station for electric aircraft operating to Berne.
Water & soil quality
The drainage system and the airport ramp areas are maintained at all times and repairs and improvements are made whenever necessary. This way we make sure there is no danger of water pollution and that the Waters Protection Ordinance as defined by the Swiss Federal Council is observed.
Noise abatement
In Switzerland noise emissions are regulated by the Noise Abatement Ordinance. The airport, the airlines and pilots are requested to avoid unnecessary aircraft noise by their best possible means e.g. flight routing, climb and descent procedures. Aircraft noise measurements carried out intermittently have shown that noise levels are often met with significant margins.
The Berne Airport operating hours are published on our website. Ambulance flights, live human organ transport flights and flights on behalf of the Swiss Confederation may be allowed on a 24 hour basis.
The noise surcharges are based on noise emission measurements as part of the certification of aircraft process. Each individual aircraft type is assigned to a noise category. Aircraft in higher noise emission categories are subject to a noise surcharge raised with the landing and handling invoice.
If you want to complain about aircraft noise at Bern Airport please fill in this form.
Further information on environmental protection can be found in the following article: