Airservices Australia has released options for respite and altitude improvement that would deliver relief from aircraft noise to more than half a million Brisbane residents.
The options, developed in response to the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane Package 4 recommendations and actions, would deliver periods of respite from aircraft noise to 482,000 residents, while 139,000 would have aircraft noise reduced over their homes through improved aircraft arrival profiles that reduce the need for level flight, with many more also benefiting from increased flightpath altitudes.
Following a detailed review by air traffic management consultants Trax International, Airservices is now progressing five options outlined here to community and industry engagement.
The community can provide feedback until Sunday, 13 December 2026 to assist Airservices in its assessment of which options should progress through to implementation.
Airservices will consult on options that:
- provide periods of respite for around 482,000 Brisbane residents from arrival operations for new and legacy runway aligned communities
- reduce aircraft noise by removing daytime altitude restrictions on night-time flightpaths, decreasing the impact of arrival operations from the north and west over water, and south and east over land, including removing level flight operations over around 71,000 residents
- increase aircraft altitude permanently on flightpaths from the north and west to the southern runway ends, including removing level flight operations over around 68,000 residents.
"The options we are presenting provide a real opportunity for noise improvements for some of the communities we have most frequently engaged with throughout the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane," said Donna Marshall, Airservices Australia's Head of Noise Action Plan for Brisbane Program Delivery.
"New runway aligned communities, who are subject to both arrival and departure operations, could receive respite from arrivals in between peak traffic periods on an alternating basis with legacy runway communities.
"Communities to the north and west of the airport, who are overflown by aircraft arriving to the new runway, could also experience lower noise levels from the increased flightpath altitudes and smoother descent profiles. Some of these communities could also benefit from respite options."
Brisbane residents can register here to attend drop-in and online engagement sessions.
About Airservices
Airservices Australia is a government-owned organisation responsible for safely and efficiently managing air traffic in 11 per cent of the world's airspace, as well as the provision of aviation rescue fire fighting services at Australia's busiest airports. We are regulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and work closely with our customers and industry to support the long-term growth of the aviation industry.
