(Los Angeles, CA) Today, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) recognized nine airlines as the 2021 winners of the LAX Fly Quieter Program. The program, which began in 2020, recognizes efforts to reduce aircraft noise through voluntary operational and technical measures, as well as community engagement.
"Los Angeles World Airports is committed to being a first-class neighbor as we collaborate and innovate with our airline partners to reduce the impacts from aircraft noise on our local community," said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, LAWA. "We applaud all our of partners for participating in our efforts to find new and innovative ways to help mitigate aircraft noise, and celebrate the partnerships we have created with our neighbors through the Fly Quieter program."
The LAX Fly Quieter Program evaluated all airline operations at LAX across five scoring elements:
- Aircraft noise levels as measured by monitors in residential communities under LAX arrivals
- Noise level ratings of an airline's fleet of aircraft operating at LAX as certified by the Federal Aviation Administration
- The lowest number of pilot-initiated early turns over adjacent communities during take-off
- The lowest number of non-conforming easterly departures during nighttime hours between midnight and 6:30 a.m.
- Compliance with the LAX nighttime maintenance engine run-up restriction
The LAX Fly Quieter Program offers airlines bonus points for voluntarily using noise-mitigating technology on aircraft and engaging with neighboring communities and stakeholders, such as participating in the LAX/Community Noise Roundtable. In 2021, four airlines were recognized for their voluntary programs to retrofit specific aircraft in their fleet with noise-reducing technologies. In addition, seven airlines participated in LAX/Community Noise Roundtable meetings, providing valuable input and enhancing discussions addressing aircraft noise issues.
Airlines were recognized within three categories based on the number of average daily operations (landings and takeoffs) conducted at LAX.
The winners for each category are as follows:
Category 1 (100 or more average daily operations)
- Gold – American Airlines
- Silver – United Airlines
- Bronze – Southwest Airlines
Category 2 (5-99 average daily operations)
- Gold – Spirit Airlines
- Silver – Volaris
- Bronze – Air Canada
Category 3 (Four or fewer average daily operations)
- Gold – Volaris Costa Rica
- Silver – Asia Pacific Airlines
- Bronze – Avianca
The Fly Quieter Program began in January 2020 as an education and recognition program designed to encourage proactive efforts by airlines to fly as quietly as possible at LAX. While airports cannot impose mandatory aircraft noise limits, the Fly Quieter Program recognizes airlines for following LAX noise abatement procedures, using quieter aircraft and taking voluntary noise-reduction measures where feasible, by evaluating and scoring these efforts. The program is part of LAWA's ongoing commitment to address community concerns about aircraft noise.
More information about the program, including scoring methodologies and detailed descriptions, are listed as part of the LAX Fly Quieter Program 2021 Annual Report, which can be viewed here.
