Emirates receives Gold Tier award for quiet flying

Emirates has been awarded the Gold Tier recognition in New York JFK Airport’s 2024 Fly Quiet Programme, the only airline to achieve this distinction. Emirates’ score of 92.9[1] significantly outpaced other carriers flying into the airport and taking part in the programme.

The Fly Quiet Programme, developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, is a voluntary initiative that encourages airlines to minimise their noise signature through utilising quieter aircraft as well as embracing noise abatement procedures and preferential runway usage.

This Gold Tier recognition reflects the airline’s commitment to noise reduction at one of the world’s busiest and most operationally complex airports. Since the programme’s inception, Emirates has collaborated closely with the Port Authority, with the airline’s Flight Operations team making sustained efforts to exceed all the programme’s requirements.

The latest accolade at one of the world’s busiest international hubs follows a series of industry recognitions in noise management over the years, including Silver Tier status at Newark (EWR) and the Chairperson’s Award at San Francisco’s (SFO) Fly Quiet programmes.

Emirates’ fleet noise levels register a notable cumulative margin which is better than 12 EPNdB over ICAO Chapter 4 requirements[2]. The airline’s all wide-body fleet and high-capacity operations efficiently transport passengers, while achieving optimised noise output by delivering an average of 1.75 million passenger-kilometres per sector, which involves one arrival and one departure noise event[3]. Simply put, this means fuller aircraft flying non-stop over longer distances, all while optimising noise output.