Dutch Government scales back Schiphol Flight reductions in new noise pollution plan

The Dutch government has unveiled a revised plan to limit the number of annual flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, aiming to reduce noise pollution while maintaining its role as a key European hub. The plan, announced by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Mr Mark Harbers proposes reducing Schiphol’s maximum annual flight movements from 500,000 to between 475,000 and 485,000, which translates to a 3-5% reduction. This adjustment is less severe than the previous administration’s controversial goal of cutting flights to 460,000 by April 2024, which faced strong opposition from airlines, the EU, and U.S. regulators, eventually leading to the plan’s suspension.

The updated proposal also includes further noise control measures, such as reducing the number of night flights from 32,000 to 27,000 annually and incentivizing airlines to fly quieter aircraft. The government is also exploring differentiated airport charges to encourage the use of quieter planes during both daytime and nighttime operations. Notably, proposals like a night curfew or transferring leisure flights to Lelystad Airport were not included in the final package.

Schiphol Airport has voiced its support for the revised plan, emphasizing that it strikes a balance between environmental concerns and preserving Schiphol’s hub function, which is vital for the Netherlands’ connectivity and business climate. The airport highlighted that it continues to engage in discussions with airlines on noise-reduction strategies.

KLM, the largest airline operating at Schiphol, has welcomed some aspects of the plan but remains concerned about the potential loss of historic flight slots, which could lead to retaliatory measures from other countries. KLM has urged the Dutch government and the European Commission to consider these implications carefully as they finalize the proposal.

The European Commission’s approval is still required before the flight cuts can be implemented during the 2025-2026 winter season.

The article Dutch Government scales back Schiphol Flight reductions in new noise pollution plan first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.