Active noise protection

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Exposure to aircraft noise

Compared to other major airports, Munich Airport performs very well thanks to its optimal location. The number of people affected by noise above 55 dB(A) (LDEN) at Munich Airport is only a very small fraction of those affected at other major airports. This was the result of both the 2017 noise mapping and the 2022 noise mapping in accordance with the EU Environmental Directive (see graph on the right).

Note: The figures in the 2022 noise mapping for different airports are based on different reference years. The reference year for Munich Airport was 2021, which was affected by Covid-19, while for the other airports it was 2019. 

Residents affected by aircraft noise compared

People affected by aircraft noise

Noise-based basic charges

Munich Airport influences the aircraft used through noise-related charges. Airlines that use quiet aircraft benefit from a tiered, widely spread charging system. Different additional surcharges also apply for each hour of the night.

Quiet aircraft types

The use of new and modern aircraft types can significantly reduce

aircraft noise emissions, especially peak levels. This leads to lower aircraft noise pollution in the vicinity of Munich Airport.

These are the quiet aircraft types

  • Flugzeugtyp A320neo von Lufthansa
    A320neo as a modern, low-noise aircraft - On January 25, 2016, the Airbus A320neo commenced scheduled service at Munich Airport. The suffix “neo” stands for “new engine option,” which refers to the use of innovative geared turbofan engines. The new engine architecture causes less noise. Due to its high efficiency, fuel consumption is also reduced by 15 percent, thereby lowering CO2 emissions.
  • The Airbus A350, which has been in service since 2015, also features improved engine technology. The twin-engine long-haul aircraft is significantly quieter than its four-engine predecessor, the Airbus A340, which has been in service since 1993: the A350 generates up to 7 dB(A) less noise during takeoff and up to 3 dB(A) less noise during landing. The Airbus A340 is gradually being replaced by the Airbus A350. In 2011, the Airbus A340 still accounted for over 3% of all flight movements at Munich Airport. By 2018, there were already more flight movements by the Airbus A350 than by the Airbus A340. In 2020, the share of flight movements by the A340 was already less than one percent.
  • Tui Fly vom Typ B737Max on apron with Tower
    Generational change of the B737 - The Boeing 737 is one of the most successful aircraft families, now spanning several generations. The first generation, such as the B737-200, was equipped with engines that caused very high noise emissions compared to today's standards. At Munich Airport, the proportion of B737-200s fell from over 8% in 1993 to zero in the 2000s. The second generation (B737-300 to -500) was already equipped with improved engines, which significantly reduced noise emissions. This progress continued with the “Next Generation” (from the B737-600 to -900): during takeoff, the Boeing B737-800 is up to 7 dB(A) quieter than the Boeing B737-200. The latest variant, the B737 MAX, continues this trend with even more efficient engines.

Long-term development of noise levels

Aircraft noise at Munich Airport has developed significantly independently of the growth in air traffic over the past decades. The number of maximum noise levels above 80.5 dB(A) has declined over the decades .

The number of maximum noise levels above 90.5 dB(A) has fallen particularly sharply. While up to around 500 of these high levels were still measured annually in the 1990s, the annual values are now in the low double-digit or even single-digit range (see right).

During the same period, the number of flight movements at Munich Airport has doubled, and the number of passengers has almost quadrupled.

Number of maximum noise levels above 90.5 dB(A) per year at stationary noise monitors
Number of maximum noise levels above 90.5 dB(A) per year at stationary noise monitors 

Engine test runs

Engine test runs can be a significant source of noise on the ground. To avoid this nuisance, these tests are always carried out in a special noise protection hall at Munich Airport. This structure blocks the noise, limiting its impact on the surrounding area.

Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA)-Anlagen

64 Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) systems are used at Munich Airport to air-condition aircraft cabins at their parking positions. This eliminates the need for the auxiliary power units (APUs) previously used, and in particular the associated noise, unnecessary kerosene consumption, and CO2 emissions.

With the expansion of Terminal 1 to include the new pier, 12 additional PCA systems will be added.