• Ryanair Boeing 737
    Ryanair
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    FR/RYR
    Airline Type:
    Low-Cost Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Dublin Airport, London Stansted Airport, Milan Bergamo Airport
    Year Founded:
    1985
    Airline Group:
    Ryanair Group
    CEO:
    Eddie Wilson
    Country:
    Ireland

Anyone living under an airport flight path is accustomed to the sound of engines roaring over your roof. While long gone are the days of Concorde or a low-flying Boeing 727 rattling the crockery, many residents still struggle with the frequent noise pollution that comes with living close to an airport.

However, could a new generation of airliner engines be slowly putting an end to that too? London Stansted Airport seems to think so.

The next generation

Since the implementation of Ryanair’s Boeing 737 MAX fleet at its Essex-based hub, the airport’s Flight Evaluation Unit has recorded a 40% reduction in noise compared to its slightly older Boeing 737-800 jets and over 93% on the carrier’s now-retired -200s from the 1990s.

The slightly higher density MAX 8 model, designated the Boeing 787-8200, has been active in Ryanair’s fleet since 2021. The “next-generation” CFM LEAP engines can reduce fuel usage by 16% and bring take-off volumes down to just 70 decibels.

Ryanair 737 MAX
Boeing 737 MAX's CFM LEAP engines have proven a popular choice with airlines committed to reducing noise pollution. Photo: Boeing

“We monitor the noise levels of all aircraft, and the new 737-8200 averages 70 decibels during take-off, which is over three decibels lower than the 737-800 aircraft they also use,” noted Duncan Smith, manager of Stansted’s Flight Evaluation United. “As Ryanair accounts for approximately 75 percent of all take-offs and landings at London Stansted, these new aircraft will help us to accommodate growth at the airport while limiting the number of people affected by noise.”

Next-generation engines, including the CFM LEAP and Pratt & Whitney PW1100G, have drawn acclaim from airlines and aviation companies thanks to their efficiency and lowered engine volumes. Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings has notably moved to equip all Airbus A320neo jets joining the fleet with CFM’s engines, which are expected to save up to 3,700 tonnes of carbon emissions per year and reduce engine noise by around 50%.

Ryanair has been singing the engine’s praises too. “As Europe’s greenest, cleanest major airline, our $22bn investment in these Boeing 737-8200 “Gamechanger” aircraft goes a long way in supporting Ryanair to fly more sustainably, offering four per cent more seats per flight while burning 16 per cent less fuel and reducing noise emissions by 40 per cent,” added Thomas Fowler, Ryanair’s Director of Sustainability.

London Stansted Airport Drone Image
London Stansted Airport's expansion plan would see passenger capacity increase to 43 million, though concerns have been raised by local campaign groups over its environmental impact. Photo: Stansted Airport

Noisy neighbors

Any noise reduction is likely a warm welcome from Stansted’s neighbors. The airport has frequently come under fire from local residents due to noisy nighttime take-offs. Despite operating within the World Health Organisation’s Environmental Noise Guidelines, in 2019, Stansted logged 15,389 noise complaints, a sharp jump from the 742 recorded in 2012. In 2020, noise complaints dropped to 5,727, likely due to decreased air traffic during the pandemic, though the gradual recovery of the aviation industry saw that figure rise back up to 9,186 last year. However, only two nighttime noise infringements were recorded in 2021.

From October 2022, the British Government is set to ban nighttime movements of QC4 rated aircraft and above, including the Boeing 747-400 and 767-300, likely restricting operations of several cargo carriers to daylight hours at London Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted.

The airport is currently in the planning phase of a drastic expansion which would see passenger capacity increase to 43 million per year. In October 2021, a High Court judge overruled a challenge to block the bid by Uttlesford District Council due to environmental concerns. A review by the Planning Inspectorate sided with the airport’s plans to add two new taxiway links, six remote aircraft stands, and three additional aircraft stands, noting that while there would be “a limited degree of harm arising in respect of air quality and carbon emissions,” it was “far outweighed by the benefits of the proposal.”

The gradual expansion of the airport is set to bring over 5,000 new jobs across the region over the next five years.

Do you live under Stanstead airport? Have you noticed a noise reduction? Let us know in the comments.

Sources: BBC News, Essex Live