Dutch gov't to allow Schiphol to grow further from 2021: report

Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen of Infrastructure and Water Management wants to allow the number of flight movements at Schiphol to increase to a limited extent from 2021, sources in The Hague said to broadcaster NOS. The cabinet will discuss this proposal on Friday.

The government is convinced that growth at the Amsterdam airport can go hand-in-hand with less environmental issues, according to the broadcaster. Van Nieuwenhuizen's proposal does not say exactly how much Schiphol will be allowed to grow. That will depend on the environmental gains achieved by cleaner, quieter and more fuel-efficient aircraft.

Schiphol is limited to 500 thousand takeoffs and landings until 2020. That agreement was made in 2008. The Amsterdam airport has been on the edge of that limit for years.