Schiphol CEO urges government to make a decision regarding Lelystad Airport

Schiphol CEO Pieter van Oord hopes that the Dutch government will make a decision "after 15 years" about opening Lelystad Airport for civil aviation. He said this on Tuesday during a New Year’s speech at the airport. “There is significant support for this in the province of Flevoland and the municipality of Lelystad,” The CEO, who has been in charge at Schiphol since June, said.

Lelystad Airport is meant to be a commercial airport to take over holiday flights from Schiphol, but a majority of the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch Parliament is against this idea.

Barry Madlener, the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, is still hoping that the airport will open for holiday flights. The Schoof Cabinet's government program also stated that the Cabinet will provide "clarity" about Lelystad Airport in 2025.

The Ministry of Defense is also interested in using the airport. It was reported last month that the airport in Flevoland would be an ideal location to use as a base for fighter jets.

The Royal Schiphol Group, which also owns Eindhoven Airport and Rotterdam The Hague Airport, has experience in Eindhoven with so-called dual use. This occurs when the defense department and civilians use the same airport. “That is actually a combination that works quite well,” Van Oord said.

“I am an optimistic man,” the CEO joked. He also said that he is expecting the Dutch government to make a decision about aviation travel this year. This would require a nature permit. "I hope that this will lead to a degree of legal certainty for Schiphol, but also for our neighbors so that enforcement can take place."