Impact of Large Airport on Residents’ Quality of Life

Abstract

A nearby large airport provides both positive and negative impact on nearby communities. A large airport could provide economic growth for a region near an airport, but also have negative effects on environmental and health-related impact of noise exposure and air pollution induced by the aircraft. To study the impact of a large airport on the quality of life (QoL) of residents in surrounding regions, a survey regarding nine indicators for QoL was conducted for two Dutch communities. A comparison was made between one community situated near Schiphol airport and one in Utrecht without a neighbouring airport. Results showed more aircraft noise-annoyed people living near the airport than people living further away. Using a Principle Component Analysis, the nine extracted factors supported previously theorized indicators defining QoL. Noticeable differences are found between these two communities with the airport as main discriminator. Outcomes of this study help to develop a model to measure QoL and improve the understanding of the impact of a nearby airport on people's well-being.