The Port of Seattle announced this year’s Fly Quiet Award winners, celebrating the achievements of Air Canada, Frontier Airlines, and Air France. The three airline partners, which all operate out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), exemplified the Port’s environmental goals and desire to be a good neighbor to communities. Air Canada and Frontier Airlines received the best overall scores for operations, while Air France earned recognition for showing the most significant improvements.
The Fly Quiet Program has been in place since 2002 as part of the Part 150 Study at SEA, and the Fly Quiet Awards have been a part of the program since 2005 as a way to increase airline and pilot awareness of aircraft noise impacts on local communities.
“I’m excited to be celebrating this year’s Fly Quiet winners, all of whom represent the importance of partnership in being a good neighbor to our near-airport communities,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Hamdi Mohamed. “As a special-purpose government stewarding a major international airport, we’re committed to using data-driven strategies and strong partnerships with airlines to reduce noise impacts. Our work to be at the forefront of noise programs like Fly Quiet continues to be a Port and Commission priority, and we thank everyone who helps us move the needle forward in supporting those goals.”
Airlines are judged using four award criteria:
- Operations sound levels (utilizing four of the Port’s noise monitors)
- Success at flying within the noise abatement flight procedures
- Low levels of noise exceedances late at night
- Adherence to the airport’s ground maintenance engine run-up regulations
Air Canada and Frontier Airlines return as the highest-scoring airlines for the third year in a row. They continue to excel due to their new, modern fleets and their commitment to flying quiet procedures.
Air Canada earned the top score, recognized for operating its quieter Airbus A220 and Boeing 737-MAX8 aircraft, which have lower noise profiles compared to the older narrow-body models they replaced. They fly the established noise abatement flight procedures at SEA consistently.
“We are very proud to win this award for the third year in a row. This award would not be possible without the use of our modern fleet of Airbus A220 and Boeing 737-MAX8s,” said Captain Andrew Kovats, Technical Pilot, Navigation and Operational Efficiency at Air Canada. “Noise reduction is important to Air Canada as we aim to meet or exceed the noise abatement procedures set by airports around the world while working to reduce disruptions related to noise in the communities we serve.”
Frontier Airlines scores consistently higher than other domestic airlines by operating the quiet and efficient Airbus A320NEO and A321NEO aircraft. This is Frontier’s sixth Fly Quiet Award overall.
“We are honored to once again receive the SEA Fly Quiet Award and to support the airport’s mission to be a good community partner,” said Trevor Stedke, Senior Vice President of Operations, Frontier Airlines. “We have earned our place as America’s Greenest Airline with our modern, highly fuel-efficient, all-Airbus fleet that plays an important role in reducing our noise footprint. We also thank our pilots, maintenance technicians, and ground service team at SEA for their role in achieving this exciting recognition.”
Air France received this year’s award for most significant improvement over the previous year. Air France showed remarkably low takeoff and arrival noise by committing to updates in their fleet and utilizing modern Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 aircraft at SEA.
“Air France is honored to receive recognition in this year’s Fly Quiet Awards. By adopting quieter, more efficient aircraft, we are dedicated to reducing our environmental footprint and noise pollution while continuously enhancing the sustainability of our operations,” said Air France SEA Station Manager Evelyne Nguyen. “This acknowledgment from the Port of Seattle is a meaningful reflection of that commitment.”
Contact
Kassie McKnight-Xi | Aviation Communications and Marketing Manager
(206) 787-5940 | [email protected]
