UPS and Prague Airport to Collaborate on Noise Reduction

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Today UPS and Prague Airport announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on reducing the noise and environmental impact of cargo flights at the airport.

The continued growth of global trade and e-commerce means that demand for express services and cargo flights continues to increase. Night flying is an essential part of how companies like UPS are able to serve their customers and we are committed to being a good neighbor in the airports that are part of our smart global logistics network,” said Marcin Krzak, Managing Director, UPS Czech Republic. “As one of the world’s largest cargo airlines, UPS has the knowledge and expertise to find solutions to reduce the environmental impact in collaboration with our customers, governments and airport partners around the world.”

The Prague Airport-UPS Partnership Agreement provides a formal framework for cooperation through workshops and information exchange. Specifically, UPS and the airport will share knowledge and best practices on noise reduction measures from other airports and how they could be implemented in Prague.

In addition, the airport will keep UPS informed of planned infrastructure changes that would have an operational impact. UPS will also inform the airport of fleet renewal plans and implementation of new technologies. The goal of the collaboration is to reduce the noise impact of current night flights and to coordinate future noise abatement measures.

Reducing environmental impact of airport operations while at the same time increasing the level of service that we provide is one of our long-term goals. Crucial to this is having a close working relationship with carriers and continuously sharing information. We believe that with implementation of new processes and use of new technologies, we will be able to achieve our sustainability goals,” said Vaclav Rehor, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Prague Airport.

As part of the expansion of its global air cargo capacity, UPS is adding more than 40 additional aircraft to its fleet, including 28 state-of-the-art Boeing 747-8F aircraft. Equipped with advanced GEnx-2B engines and wings designed for maximum aerodynamic efficiency, this modern aircraft is 30 percent quieter and 16 percent more fuel efficient than the previous generation of large cargo planes.

The remainder of UPS Airlines fleet of more than 250 aircraft exceed the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Stage IV noise requirements, the organization’s most stringent level of noise abatement. UPS pilots also deploy continuous descent arrivals (CDAs), using a plane’s idle power to glide toward landing. Test data suggests CDAs help reduce landing noise, nitrous oxide emissions, and save fuel.

UPS, which has been offering its service in the Czech Republic since 1992, currently employs more than 430 people and operates eight facilities across the country. From Prague Airport, UPS operates a daily Monday to Friday return flight to its European air hub in Cologne, Germany, connecting Czech businesses to the rest of the world.