Schiphol very close to reaching maximum flight limit

Schiphol Airport is getting very close to its maximum flight limit of 500 thousand flight movements per year until 2020. The expectation was that the Amsterdam airport would handle 492,100 flights this year. By the end of October, there were already 422,285 flights, four percent more than in the same period last year. If that trend continues, Schiphol will handle 498 thousand flights by the end of this year, RTL Nieuws reports based on figures from Schiphol Airport.

Next years will also be a busy year at the airport, according to the Usage Forecast 2018 Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen of Infrastructure and Water Management sent to the Tweede Kamer. It is expected that 496 thousand flights will depart and land at Schiphol in 2018. Of these a maximum of 32 thousand flights will depart at night or in the early morning. In 2016 Schiphol handled 479 thousand flight movements.

The number of flights next year is less than the airlines want, according to the forecast. Schiphol is only allowed 500 thousand flight movements per year until the end of 2020, in order to limit nuisance for surrounding residents. The demand for takeoff and landing slots will also be higher than the permitted 500 thousand flight movements in 2019 and 2020.