Amsterdam’s biggest international airport, Schiphol, has asked the Dutch government to provide clarity about the contested plans to restrict the airport’s flight capacity, but it seems that the airport will have to wait until after the new government is in place.
Schiphol’s operator has said the plan to cut flight capacity by 8% is at an impasse following legal challenges by airlines and caretaker government officials, reported gulfnews.com.
A transport ministry spokesperson said some details of the plan had not been finalised. If the current cabinet approves a plan, the government will have to inform the European Commission, which must approve or reject it within three months, reports iol.co.za.
Lawmakers are set to decide the verdict by September 12 and discuss a list of issues that may be deemed controversial by the current parliament (including the flight cap) and left to the next government to decide.
The government’s main reason for the flight cap is to reduce noise pollution but it believes the cap will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address recurring logistical problems faced by the airport.
Airlines, including KLM, challenged the implementation of the measure in July, but lost the appeal. Although the Dutch Supreme Court gave the Dutch government permission to scale back the number of flights at Schiphol, the airlines have said they will appeal this verdict.
IATA, which supports the airlines' case, asked the Dutch caretaker government not to proceed ahead of the national election in November.
"In a few months’ time, this government will not be accountable for the severe consequences that may follow from the Schiphol decision, particularly with respect to relations with the Netherlands’ trading partners, lost jobs and prosperity at home," IATA said in a statement.
