The State may not reduce the maximum number of air transport movements for Schiphol from 500,000 to 460,000 this year. This has been determined by the District Court of Noord-Holland in preliminary relief proceedings brought by KLM and other airlines.
The cabinet wants to allow fewer flights at Schiphol in order to contain the (noise) nuisance. But according to the court, the State did not follow the correct procedure.
The government must comply with European rules. And according to those rules, the State can only reduce the number of flight movements following going through a careful process.
For example, the government must map out the various measures once morest noise nuisance and ask all stakeholders for their opinion. “A reduction in the number of air transport movements is only permitted if it is clear that other measures to limit noise nuisance are insufficient.”
The cabinet wanted to lower the maximum number of flight movements this year from a maximum of 500,000 to no more than 460,000. Next year, the number had to drop further to 440,000. KLM challenged that intention in court together with Delta Air Lines, Corendon, easyJet and TUI.
