In a move aimed at reducing noise pollution, the Dutch government has announced it will cut flight capacity at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, one of the busiest in the world. Starting in 2025, the airport’s flight limit will be reduced to 478,000 annually, a 4.4% decrease from the current limit of 500,000 flights. This decision is part of a broader effort to improve the quality of life for residents living near the airport. Along with the flight reduction, the government plans to introduce quieter, more modern aircraft to further reduce noise pollution by an estimated 15%.
Dutch airline KLM has opposed this measure, citing its ongoing €7 billion investment in quieter planes. The airline argues that limiting flights could force international competitors to take over valuable flight slots at Schiphol, potentially leading to retaliatory actions that harm KLM. “The reduction in flight movements is not an end in itself and is expected to be legally unsustainable. We await the advice of the European Commission,” KLM said.
While the 4.4% reduction is a significant step, it falls short of earlier proposals, which included a 20% cut in flight capacity, the complete halt of night flights, and the closure of one runway that flies directly over the city’s port. These earlier measures were intended to address growing concerns over noise pollution, but the Dutch government has now settled on a more moderate approach.
Authorities in Amsterdam, which holds a 20% stake in the airport, are caught between opposing interests. A Dutch court ruling in spring 2024 had urged the government to take stronger action on noise pollution, acknowledging that public concerns had been ignored for too long. However, attempts to reduce flights have faced opposition from the European Union and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which argue that such unilateral measures contradict the internationally recognized “Balanced Approach” to airport operations. This framework aims to maintain air connectivity while mitigating noise impacts on local communities.
The European Commission is now reviewing the Dutch government’s plan, weighing whether it has struck a fair balance between maintaining Schiphol’s flight capacity and addressing noise concerns.
The airport’s operator, Royal Schiphol Group, supports efforts to balance operations with environmental concerns. The group has outlined plans for airport charges from 2025 to 2027 that aim to reduce noise by making the noisiest aircraft more expensive to operate, while encouraging airlines to use quieter planes. “We believe this will have a substantial impact on the types of aircraft airlines choose to operate, especially for airlines without a base in Amsterdam,” the group said. Despite this, the operator has noted that there appears to be a difference in views between them and the Dutch government regarding the proposed measures and is keen to discuss the issue further with the ministry.
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