In Reversal, Court to Allow Gov’t to Limit Schiphol Flights

A Netherlands court has reversed an April decision and will let the Dutch government reduce the number of flights allowed at Schiphol Airport in order to reduce noise, according to a Friday filing with the Amsterdam Court of Appeal.

Delta Air Lines, KLM and other carriers had brought the suit against the Dutch government, which had announced plans to reduce flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol from a cap of 500,000 annual movements—take-offs and landings—to 460,000 in November 2023 and then to 440,000 in 2024. The International Air Transport Association along with several airlines, including United Airlines, JetBlue, Air Canada, British Airways and Lufthansa, also had sought to stop the reduction in flights.

A lower court in April had ruled that the plan conflicted with European law requiring a process that would examine other noise-reduction options, but the new ruling holds that law does not apply, according to an English translation of the Dutch ruling, allowing the airport to proceed. 

IATA disagreed with the ruling. “As we examine the ruling and its complexities, we seek clarity from the Dutch government on its intentions,” said IATA director general Willie Walsh in a statement. “The full impact of this decision on the planned capacity cuts is unclear and there are no established international processes for such a retrograde exercise. We also urge the European Commission to defend its laws and air service agreements. And most importantly, we continue to ask the Dutch government to revert to the Balanced Approach, which is the most effective and only internationally accepted means of dealing with the noise concerns of the local community.”

“We are disappointed about the ruling and are studying it,” KLM wrote in a statement. “The court does not specify in concrete terms how an experimental regulation can be applied. As a result, it is currently unclear when, how and in what way the ruling will be implemented and what it means for the number of aircraft movements.”

KLM also noted that on June 15 it submitted a plan for “cleaner, quieter, more fuel-efficient flight operations,” and is “convinced” that these measurers will reduce noise impact and CO2 emissions while retaining the carrier’s network. 

“We are reviewing the decision and considering our options,” Delta wrote in a statement. “Our commitment to sustainability and noise reduction remains. We will continue to prioritize investments in more fuel-efficient and quieter aircraft, as well as support the increased production and availability of sustainable aviation fuel.”

RELATED: Court Denies Further Government Flight Cuts at Schiphol