The new government in the Netherlands has come up with a pared-back plan to cut the flights at Amsterdam Schiphol by 3-5% from November 2025, the start of the 2025-26 winter schedule.
If it comes to fruition, the plan would mean that the airport’s annual number of flights, currently set at 500 000 would be reduced to 475 000-485 000. The move to cut flights at Schiphol is a long-running battle, with the motivation being to reduce noise pollution in the vicinity of the airport.
The previous government had tried to cut the number of annual flights at Schiphol to 460 000 from April 2024, followed by a further cut in 2025. But the plan was dissolved in November 2023 following opposition from the EU and US regulators, and a legal challenge from airlines.
The new plan still needs to be approved by the European Commission.
The government has also come up with another plan. It proposes that Schiphol differentiates airport charges to incentivise airlines to fly quieter aircraft from the airport during day and night. The airport administration has said it was in discussions with carriers regarding this.
Schiphol said in a statement: “The package consists of measures that achieve noise reduction for local residents and offers perspective for airlines, while leaving sufficient room for Schiphol's hub function – that is important for the connectivity and business climate of the Netherlands.
“We appreciate the Cabinet's continuation of the European balanced approach procedure so soon after taking office. The aim of this procedure is to ensure a good balance between the interests of the local community, airlines and the hub function of Schiphol.”
Dutch airline KLM said in a statement: “It is positive that a number of measures from the broadly supported ‘cleaner, quieter, more efficient’ sector plan have been adopted.
“At the same time, KLM is concerned that the possible loss of historic slots could lead to retaliatory measures from other countries, resulting in the loss of connections important to the Netherlands as an international trading country.”
