Following pressure from the U.S. and the EU, the Dutch government announced on Tuesday that it would abandon a proposed plan to cap the number of flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport next summer. The decision was described as “a bitter pill” by the Dutch government. This move is a defeat for environmentalist and resident groups living near Schiphol who had supported the cap, and a victory for the airline industry, including Air France-KLM’s Dutch subsidiary and U.S. airlines like Delta and JetBlue, who had opposed it.
Minister Mark Harbers, in a letter to parliament, emphasized that the government remains committed to restoring the balance between Schiphol and its surroundings. He stated that the government would continue to pursue the plan, but there is uncertainty regarding whether a new cabinet will have the same priorities after the national election on Nov. 22.
The proposed plan aimed to limit the number of flights at Schiphol to approximately 450,000 flights, which is 10% below 2019 levels, in order to reduce noise pollution. It was also supported by environmentalists as a way to reduce carbon dioxide and nitrogen emissions.
In November, opposition to the plan increased after the Dutch slot coordinator announced costly cuts for airlines such as KLM, as well as exclusion for JetBlue. Following this, the U.S. government threatened retaliation if the Dutch went ahead with the plan, calling it “unreasonable” and saying it violated the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement.
In a letter to parliament, Harbers mentioned that the Netherlands was now alone in the cap policy. The government will wait for a Supreme Court ruling and further feedback from the European Commission expected next year.
Environmental group Greenpeace expressed disappointment over the decision, stating “This is a heavy setback, but the number of flights must be lowered in order to make the Netherlands livable and to tackle the climate crisis.” Greenpeace also encouraged voters to express their opinion on the matter in the upcoming election.
Multiple airlines welcomed the decision, with “SkyTeam” partners KLM and Delta affirming their commitment to flying more quietly and sustainably without reducing capacity. JetBlue highlighted that its entry at Schiphol had led to lower fares and urged governments to ensure it has access.
Airlines4America (A4A), an industry group, thanked the U.S. government for its discussions with the EU, remarking that they were instrumental in persuading the Dutch government to reach this outcome.
(Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Jan Harvey, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Jonathan Oatis)
