Photo credit: Daniel Kist
by Arline L. Bronzaft, Ph.D., Board of Directors, GrowNYC, Co-founder, The Quiet Coalition, and Honorary Chair, Quiet American Skies
I have previously informed our readers that Amsterdam’s government was planning to reduce flights at Schiphol Airport by the end of 2025. But in this article by Charles Alcock, we learn that the Dutch Supreme Court recently blocked this effort to reduce annual flights. If it were to move ahead with aircraft cuts, the government would have to follow certain European Union rules.
A new Dutch government came into office in July of this year, and it consists of a coalition of parties that have reservations regarding environmental policies. Alcock notes that the infrastructure minister does not favor limiting capacity at the country’s main airport. However, Alcock adds that it’s likely local residents and airlines will ask the government to look at this issue again. The European Commission might do so as well.
A spokesperson for the Royal Schiphol group, which owns and operates the Amsterdam Airport, believes a balanced approach is needed if noise is the reason for a reduction in flights. The spokesperson adds that “legal protection for local residents, perspective for the industry and clear rules to reduce nuisance and emissions” must be considered. Airline KLM agrees with this approach.
We will have to wait and see whether the new Dutch government will follow its predecessor’s environmental policies.
