Schiphol will not face drastic flight cuts next year to reduce noise disturbance

The Dutch government wants to allow a total of 478,000 flight movements at Schiphol Airport next year. In doing so, the Cabinet said on Friday that it accepts that the number of residents who are seriously disturbed by noise pollution from air traffic will not be reduced by 20 percent, as was previously agreed.

Currently, about 500,000 flights are allowed at the airport per year, and about 483,000 were expected for the entire 2024 calendar year, up from about 442,000 last year. The previous Cabinet wanted to slash the maximum permissable total by about 40,000 to meet climate change targets, and to reduce noise complaints, especially overnight. That would have resulted in an 8 percent cut, with the reduction announced on Friday equating to about 4.4 percent.

In September, the current Cabinet already indicated that the number of permitted flights would probably be between 475,000 and 485,000. New calculations revealed a few weeks ago suggested that the Cabinet really needed to consider bringing flight movements down to 466,000 annually to come closer to the noise reduction target.

However, Infrastructure Minister Barry Madlener said on Friday that he fears that a maximum number below the previously issued range could again cause difficulties with the European Commission, which must approve the plans. It would also “put too much of a burden on the sector now,” he stated.

Even with the the reduction being less compared to the last Cabinet's plans, KLM said that the maximum of 478,000 flights was "incomprehensible." The Dutch airline operates the most passenger flights at the airport, and sister airline Transavia typically falls in second or third place. The proposed reduction is "expected to be legally untenable," said KLM. It is awaiting the advice from the European Commission, which previously opposed a proposed reduction for being too blunt.

KLM wants to achieve the reduction of noise pollution with its investment in cleaner and quieter aircraft instead of a reduced total number of flights. "Limiting the number of flights entails a great risk of retaliatory measures from other countries, which will not only affect the aviation industry but also other Dutch companies," KLM wrote in a message on its website. The company previously argued that it becomes harder to invest in newer aircraft if it is limited in how it can utilize flights to earn revenue.

KLM has "major doubts about the assumptions the ministry used to arrive at this figure," the airline stated. "The decision-making process does not meet the requirements of a careful Balanced Approach procedure, in which achieving the intended policy objective is central: noise reduction."

BARIN, the trade association for airlines active in the Netherlands, is also strongly opposed to the decision. "The minister is playing with fire. The assumptions underlying the calculation are incorrect and are not supported by the sector. BARIN has repeatedly warned about the consequences of contraction," said the organization's chair, Marnix Fruitema, in a response.

Conversely, the municipality of Amsterdam thinks the news is “disappointing.” The capital city wanted there to be a limit of 400,000 flights to prevent noise nuisance for people who live nearby. “This shows once again that noise pollution and its negative effects on residents near Schiphol are not being taken seriously," said Alderwoman Hester van Buren (airport).

Van Buren added that very little remains from the promises made to reduce noise complaints and that measures are now being pushed to the side.

“I understand that some residents had hoped that the noise around Schiphol would be further reduced,” Madlener noted. “On the other hand, these are drastic measures for the sector. I am convinced that we have achieved a good balance with this decision.”

Madlener thinks it is "a huge achievement" that noise pollution will decrease by 15 percent next year. "Also thanks to investments by KLM, for example, in quieter aircraft. So yes, you can say the glass is half empty, but for me it is half full."

The intended reduction of noise pollution by 20 percent is not an exaggerated, idealistic desire, Madlener pointed out. The Cabinet has only decided to commit to about 15 percent for next year, but the rest must somehow be achieved later. He said this will still be accomplished during the current Cabinet’s term.

Amsterdam owns 20 percent of the airport. “Amsterdam is not against Schiphol, but the balance is not correct at this time. That is why we are pleading for a significant shrinkage and a night closure,” said the Alderwoman. The Dutch State is the main stockholder with 70 percent. The Dutch State also owns 9.1 percent of the Air France-KLM Group, which includes Air France, KLM, KLM Cityhopper, Transavia, and cargo airline Martinair.

According to Madlener, the economic interest has also been sufficiently taken into account. He thinks that a maximum of 478,000 flights is "more than enough" for Schiphol to be able to maintain its role as a transfer airport for passengers flying to faraway places.