A Noord Holland District Court judge has ruled that the Dutch government cannot ask Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, among Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, to decrease the number of flights from 500,000 per year to 460,000.
Amid different measures prompted by the Government, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has been planning to cut late-night flights as part of attempts to reduce noise pollution, Plans for the airport to be rolled out in the coming two years included closing it almost completely between midnight and 5 A.M.
The airport intended to implement the changes by 2025 or 2026 and expected that the measures will reduce noise pollution by 16% and sleep disruption to local residents by 54%.
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Schiphol is also canceling plans to build an additional runway, the Kagban Runway, citing limited space in the area, and earmarked €70 million ($76.7 million) for an environmental fund that will be invested in the local area until 2030.
In June 2022, Minister Harbers (IenW) had informed the House of Representatives about the cabinet's decision to reduce the maximum number of permitted aircraft movements to and from Schiphol to 440,000 per year. This instead of the 500,000 aircraft movements from the draft Airport Traffic Decree (LVB).
But, to its complete surprise, the Noord Holland District Court has issued the ruling on Wednesday, and has favoured the airlines. The court has ruled that the Dutch government “did not follow the correct procedure.”
In this case , Netherlands didn’t follow European Union rules that require consulting stakeholders, which includes carriers operating in the airport. Rather the government just unilaterally made this decision.
In March 2023 , The KLM Group, Delta Air Lines, Corendon, easyJet and TUI joined forces to take summary proceedings against the Dutch government to keep the Netherlands connected to the rest of the world via AMS-Schiphol.
The airlines challenged the government’s unilateral decision to cut flight movements at Schiphol significantly, confident they can reduce noise levels and CO2 emissions while maintaining a network of destinations for the millions of passengers and tons of cargo they carry annually to and from Schiphol.
Wednesday’s decision means that Schiphol “may not reduce the maximum number of flights … to 460,000,” the court in Haarlem said in a statement.
The Dutch government plans to reduce carbon emissions limitations International flights have caused great concern in the airline industry. It was being claimed that the Private aviation emissions at Schiphol skyrocketed 683% from 2020 to 2022, rising from 6,763 metric tons to 52,923 metric tons.
Netherlands has been under pressure from locals and activists to scale down the aviation activity in Schiphol-AMS airport , few months back , the Airport saw Hundreds of Climate activists from Greenpeace & Extinction Rebellion blocked the departure of several private jets in the Schiphol Airport tarmac.
Earlier in the month of March , Flag bearer KLM told CNN ,
“Being the only country in the world to establish a national CO2-ceiling does not match internationally operating sectors and international policies.”
After the carriers took Dutch government to court, In response, KLM said it plans certain measures that will offer,
“a better alternative for achieving less noise and CO2 while meeting travelers’ need to fly.”
The airline said it would explain its approach in the next phase of the case. “This will investigate whether noise levels can be reduced around Schiphol using methods other than those envisaged by the ministry,” KLM said.
On Court's decision , Delta Airlines Executive Vice President – External Affairs Peter Carter said,
“Delta believes that it is possible to balance sustainability priorities with passengers’ desire to travel and connect with people across the world – something we have demonstrated through a vigorous commitment to fleet renewal and other practices to help decarbonize our operations and reduce noise,”
”The court’s decision is the right one, safeguarding a future for Schiphol.”
Understandably, Dutch government wanted a balance between the importance of a good international airport, the associated good business climate and the importance of a better and healthier living environment where the carbon emissions do not interfere the community.
However, current ruling is not going to encourage their motives , On the court decision, the government ministry responsible for aviation infrastructure said it was studying the ruling and considering its next steps.
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