Dutch government plan for Schiphol flight cap is ‘incomprehensible’: KLM

KLM has described as “incomprehensible” a Dutch government intention to limit Amsterdam Schiphol flight movements to 478,000 next year. The government says it wants to reduce by 15% the number of people seriously affected by noise in the hub’s vicinity – part of an overall 20% noise-protection target. It states that the flight-movement cap is the “final part” of a package of anti-noise measures submitted to the European Commission. The government had indicated, earlier this year, a cap of 475,000-485,000 movements. But it states that, in order to meet an initial noise-reduction target, it would have had to cut movements to 467,000. Schiphol recorded 441,969 movements in 2023. The Dutch cabinet says it has “re-evaluated all the interests involved”, and acknowledges that a flight cut below the lower limit of 475,000 would be “too great a burden” for the air transport sector. It has opted for a 478,000-movement cap and will make up the remainder of its overall 20% noise-reduction target trough other means. The government says the measures are “not optional” and “will be monitored”.<br/>