2023-09-01 14:52:29
The resigning Dutch government announced on Friday that it was continuing its plans to reduce the number of flights at Amsterdam-Schiphol airport despite the challenge from the aviation sector which described the decision as “incomprehensible» et «arbitrary».
The maximum number of flights per year might increase from 500,000 to 452,500 from November 2024, said the executive in a press release, which claims to want to reduce noise pollution near one of the largest air hubs in Europe. “Today, the firm submitted the plan to the European Commission, which must issue an opinion on it“, following which a final decision will be made, added the government.
Dutch airline KLM blasted the decision in a statement, calling it “incomprehensibleand emphasizing that noise targets can be achieved otherwise. “It is hard to imagine such a drastic decision being taken by an outgoing government“, also fulminated its CEO Marjan Rintel, quoted in the press release, the coalition of Mark Rutte having resigned in July.
«This decision will inevitably hamper connectivity, attractiveness and the employment situation in the Netherlands“, added the Air France-KLM group in a press release. Ourania Georgoutsakou, CEO of Airlines for Europe (A4E), an association of 15 European airlines, called the decision “arbitrary, ill-considered».
«It is deeply worrying that an EU Member State is acting unpredictably and hastily on an issue that will have massive repercussions for the Netherlands and the EU Single Market as a whole.“, she added in a press release. With an end goal of 20 per cent, the government’s plan will reduce noise by 15 per cent day and night.
«Action still needs to be taken for the remaining five percent“said the government. He added that certain measures, such as a plan to partially close Schiphol at night or the purchase by airlines of quieter planes, might not be taken at present. “However, plans to partially close Schiphol at night are being considered to further reduce noise pollution.added the executive.
The Hague announced in June 2022 a gradual reduction in flights to limit noise pollution and the impact on the environment around Amsterdam-Schiphol international airport, an announcement that has since been strongly contested by the sector, which has also gone ahead courts.
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