Charges on Air Traffic Noise by Means of Conjoint Analysis

Conjoint analysis combined with direct questions was used to estimate people's willingness to pay for reduction in the air traffic noise from Oslo Airport Fornebu. 473 inhabitants of the Oslo metropolitan area were interviewed in April 1994 and took part in games which offered choices between alternative combinations of levels of rent, air pollution, road traffic noise and air traffic noise. After the games respondents were asked directly about their willingness to pay for a 50% reduction of the level of each environmental factor. The total willingness to pay for a 50% reduction in air traffic noise were estimated at NOK 8.4 million per month by means of conjoint analysis and NOK 9.2 million by means of direct questions. Noise emission charges for different aircrafts were calculated by relating them to the area covered by the aircrafts footprints.