Singapore Airlines Cargo, Slovakia's ACG Air Cargo Global, and Asiana Airlines have indicated their intention to shift cargo operations away from Brussels National if plans to enforce tough new noise abatement regulations go ahead.

Belgian media reports indicate two carriers have already decided to leave, with Saudia heading to Frankfurt International, and Yangtze River Airlines moving to Amsterdam Schiphol. The new regulations are due to come into effect on March 1, 2017. Additionally, excesses will no longer be tolerated from January 1, with severe fines for every infraction.

Citizens groups argue that the airport is too close to the city for the number of flights it currently operates. In November 2016, Brussels National handled almost 35,000 tonnes in freighter cargo on 1,341 flights. Total freighter cargo for the period January to November is 4.4% up on the same period last year. Passenger capacity is around 250,000 per week on 1,677 flights.

Airport CEO Arnaud Feist claims that the airfield will lose 25% of its freight activity due to the new regulations while passenger airlines will also be negatively affected.

“With the end of tolerances, not only will night flights not be carried out, but standards will be so strict that many day flights will be condemned as well," Belgium's Luchtzak news quoted Feist as saying. "Brussels Airlines (SN, Brussels National) A320s will no longer be able to take off between 6 and 7 am. When the day comes that this Belgian airline is fined between EUR5,000 euros and EUR10,000 euros, I do not think that the parent company Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt International) will be amused and this will not help us to keep Brussels Airlines' business in Brussels."

Spokeswoman Nathalie Van Impe adds that removing freight from the airport would be "economic and social suicide". As a response to citizens' concerns, the airport has placed an ad in Belgian newspapers addressing what it calls "five untruths". Airport opposing citizens have struck back with a legal attack on the ad for "false advertising, falsehood and use of falsehood and manipulation detrimental to public health".