NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Just as the city of Nashville has grown, so has the Nashville International Airport (BNA). The growth has caused some Donelson residents concern over increased noise.
In a previous interview with News 2, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Doug Krulen said that by 2035, BNA hopes to support up to 70 million passengers.
“Some constituents have said over the last few years as the airport’s gotten busier with more planes, more planes mean more noise,” Russ Bradford, a Metro Councilmember who oversees Donelson’s district, said. “The planes themselves aren’t getting louder — they are getting more of them.”
BNA saw more than 23 million BNA passengers during the 2024 fiscal year.
“You hear the noise of jets taking off. It gets aggravating sometimes,” Gary, a Donelson resident, said. “There’s only so much you can do — move!”
International flights have been added, concourses expanded, and BNA has used all its property, including the former location of the restaurant Monell’s at the Manor.
“It’s a process,” Bradford explained. “The FAA has to do an inspection and it has to do a review of the area. That’s when the FAA and the airport would know what the impacts are going to be and what we need to do to mitigate that.”
However, more flights could mean more noise for BNA’s neighbors. BNA’s forecast for 2025’s noise conditions shows a slight expansion of noise levels, ranging from 65-75 decibels into neighborhoods just north of Interstate 40.
“I may move away if it gets too bad, but it is always good to see Nashville grow,” Donelson resident Jessica Olive said.
Some community members told News 2 there seems to be no escape from the increased noise.
“It just takes time — you get used to it after a while,” Donelson-area employee Isaac Dominquez said. “It is kind of like living near a train. Eventually, you just tune it out.”
“Get used to it,” Timothy Phillips, a Nashville resident, said. “Like anything in life, just get used to it.”
To discuss noise reduction and future plans, the Metro Councilmember for District 15 will hold a community meeting with BNA leadership on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the Donelson branch of the Nashville Public Library. In a statement about the meeting, BNA said in part:
“The purpose of our segment is to address the issue of noise, offering a comprehensive overview of flight operations at Nashville International Airport® (BNA®). We will also clarify the roles and responsibilities of both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the MNAA in overseeing airport activities and mitigating noise impacts.”
