Amsterdam lodges appeal with Council of State for greater Schiphol flight reductions

The municipal government of Amsterdam has lodged an appeal with the Council of State against the maximum number of flights at Schiphol, a spokesperson of the executive board of the mayor and aldermen confirmed the reports. Last week, a motion by the city council was adopted that called on Alderman Hester van Buren to take this action.

The main point in the motion was the Airport Traffic Decree by Schiphol, which the Cabinet wants to alter to reduce the maximum number of flights at the airport a year from 500,000 to 478,000.

However, the city of Amsterdam wants this number to be reduced further to 400,000 flights and no overnight flights, rather than the current plans, which will have 27,000 flights at night. The motion was initiated by the Partij voor de Dieren, GroenLinks, and PvdA.

Van Buren had said about the motion that she understands the council’s wishes to appeal the decision. However, according to her, the municipal government’s position was precisely to pursue fewer legal proceedings related to Schiphol.

Other parties within the aviation sector also took their case to the Council of State. However, they want to prevent the reduction in flights at Schiphol.