Amsterdam Schiphol plans to reverse its decision to increase airline taxes next year so that flying to and from the airport remains affordable.
A 41% increase was introduced this year with a further 5% planned for 2026 for the fees that Schiphol charges airlines using the airport. The airport now intends not to implement the 2026 increase and is in talks with airlines about this decision.
This comes after KLM, European airline group Airlines for Europe (A4E) and airport body ACI Europe criticised the decision to increase the airline tax again, claiming it would undermine connectivity, hurt passengers, and weaken investment in aviation decarbonisation.
The airline tax at Amsterdam Schiphol was to increase again next year following a decision by the Dutch competition regulator to raise airport charges by 37% over the next three years. This meant airlines would pay an average of €15 (R305) more for a local departing passenger in 2027 compared with 2024.
“This tax makes the Netherlands the most expensive country in the EU for air travel, no matter the distance. The Netherlands is pricing itself out of the market. This puts pressure on our airline network and strikes at the heart of the Netherlands’ global connectivity,” said Marjan Rintel, CEO of KLM.
Ourania Georgoutsakou, MD of A4E, believes that the tax increase does not benefit passengers or the climate. “It simply makes the Netherlands less attractive as a place for business and tourism: passengers continue to travel, but to another destination.”
KLM claims the proceeds from the airline tax go back into the national treasury and are not invested in making aviation more sustainable.
