Newsletters

Last week, the Dutch government decided to halt its plan to reduce the annual flight limit at Schiphol airport from 500,000 to 460,000 starting in November 2023. In a letter to the Parliament, Dutch Infrastructure Minister Mark Harbers stated that the government, while not going forward with the reduction, remained ‘’committed to restoring the balance between Schiphol and its living environment.’’

The Dutch government's decision to impose a cap on the number of flights at the airport faced opposition not only from the industry, as it amounted to an 8% reduction in annual flights at one of Europe’s busiest hubs, but also from the US and the EU. The US Department of Transportation expressed readiness to take countermeasures against restrictions on its carriers landing at the airport, deeming the capacity reduction as "unfair, discriminatory, and anti-competitive for airlines." On top of that, the EU and Canada indicated that such a flight cap could initiate broader efforts to limit aviation growth in Europe.

CLECAT welcomes the decision of the Dutch government, as the reduction of flights risked jeopardising the EU’s internal aviation market, connectivity and economy.

Also, Air Cargo Netherlands said in a reaction to be pleased with the decision, but also noted its commitment to work together with other stakeholders towards quieter and cleaner aviation.  ACN will also continue to fight hard to protect a number of cargo aircraft slots at Schiphol airport, because even without shrinkage, demand for slots at Schiphol exceeds supply.

Source: ACN, Financial Times