Airlines take legal action against reduced flights at Schiphol

The KLM group, Delta Air Lines, Corendon, easyJet and TUI oppose The Hague’s decision to reduce the number of annual flights in order to limit noise pollution and the impact on the environment around the international airport of ‘Amsterdam.

The KLM Group, Delta Air Lines and other airlines announced on Friday a legal action once morest the Dutch government which plans to reduce flights at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to preserve the environment. “KLM Group, Delta Air Lines, Corendon, easyJet and TUI are taking interim action once morest the Dutch government to ensure the Netherlands remains connected to the rest of the world via Schiphol,” the companies said in a joint statement. .

“The immediate reason is the government’s unilateral decision to drastically reduce the number of flight movements at Schiphol this year, without looking for alternatives,” they explained.

The government wants to reduce the number of annual flights from 500,000 to 440,000 next year

The Hague announced in June a gradual reduction in flights to limit noise pollution and the impact on the environment around Amsterdam-Schiphol international airport, one of the largest European hubs. The government wants the number of flights to increase from 500,000 to 460,000 from November, and to 440,000 in 2024, an “incomprehensible” measure according to the airlines, “convinced” of being able to reduce noise and CO2 emissions while maintaining the current number of flights.

“Airlines are investing billions to meet short- and long-term sustainability goals,” they point out.

The decision, which is “unnecessary and is detrimental” to The Hague, is also “contrary to national, European and international regulations”, believe the companies.

Iata denounces a “violation of EU law”

The International Air Transport Association (Iata) for its part also announced Friday in a press release a similar summary action once morest the Dutch government. “The Netherlands is crippling its economy by destroying connectivity and it is doing so in violation of EU law and international obligations,” IATA chief executive Willie Walsh was quoted in the statement as saying.

“The hostile and job-destroying approach to the aviation sector that the Dutch government has chosen is a totally disproportionate response to noise management,” he added.

“The dangerous precedent created by this illegal approach left no choice but to [la] challenge in court,” he continued.

Leave a Replay