The new Netherlands government has announced scaled back plans to cut the number of flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport by between 3 and 5 per cent.
The latest plan in the long-running saga will see the cap on Schiphol’s annual flights being cut from the current 500,000 per year to between 475,000 to 485,000 annually. The move is being made to reduce noise pollution from aircraft in the vicinity of the airport.
The previous Dutch administration had wanted to cut the number of annual flights at Schiphol to 460,000 from April 2024, followed by a further cut in 2025. But the plan was eventually suspended by the government in November 2023 following opposition from the EU and US regulators, as well as a legal challenge by airlines.
The latest plan by the new Dutch coalition government, which needs to be approved by the European Commission, would see a 3-5 per cent reduction in flights being introduced from November 2025, the start of the 2025-26 winter schedule.
Schiphol said in a statement: “The package consists of measures that achieve noise reduction for local residents and offers perspective for airlines, while leaving sufficient room for Schiphol's hub function - that is important for the connectivity and business climate of the Netherlands.
“We appreciate the cabinet's continuation of the European balanced approach procedure so soon after taking office. The aim of this procedure is to ensure a good balance between the interests of the local community, airlines and the hub function of Schiphol.”
The Dutch government’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has also included a proposed measure to “differentiate” airport charges to ”financially encourage” airlines to fly quieter aircraft from Schiphol during both the day and night. The airport said it was in discussions with carriers about this potential change in charges.
Schiphol had also suggested imposing a night curfew at the airport, as well as moving leisure flights and private jets to Lelystad airport in its discussions with the ministry. But these proposals have not been included in the government’s package of measures for Schiphol.
Dutch airline KLM said in a statement: “It is positive that a number of measures from the broadly supported ‘cleaner, quieter, more efficient’ sector plan have been adopted.
“At the same time, KLM is concerned that the possible loss of historic slots could lead to retaliatory measures from other countries, resulting in the loss of connections important to the Netherlands as an international trading country.
“We look forward to the European Commission’s assessment of the proposed measures with confidence so that a balanced package will soon be in place. This way we continue to connect the Netherlands with the rest of the world, in balance with the surroundings.”