After pressure from the EU and the US, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has cancelled its planned capacity cuts for next year.
The flight caps would have cut almost 50 000 flights in 2024 and were going to be introduced to reduce the impact of noise and air pollution on people living nearby.
KLM and other airlines would have been affected but are now celebrating the decision.
However, Schiphol released a statement expressing its concern for the residents around the airport: “Schiphol is disappointed by the recent developments, as local residents are getting the short end of the stick.”
On November 2, the US Department of Transportation said the plans violated the 2007 US-EU Air Transport Agreement. Then, on November 13, the EU Commissioner for Transport issued a letter stating that the capacity cuts were not compliant with EU regulations.
As a result, the Dutch government is implementing other restrictions to reduce environmental impact, such as night closures and a ban on private jets and the noisiest aircraft.
The Dutch Minister of Infrastructure, Mark Harbers, said the government was committed to striking a balance between Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and its surroundings. In line with this, KLM has agreed to stop flights between 00h00 and 06h00 from March 31 next year and to use the quietest aircraft for its services.
