Tour operator TUI and Groningen Airport Eelde also wanted some flights to land at 2 a.m. at the northern airport. Apart from the fact that regulations do not allow this, the ministry also considers it a ‘heavy burden’ for local residents.
Groningen Airport Eelde and TUI tried to temporarily extend the opening hours (between 06.30 and 23.00) of Eelde at the ministry, in order to provide space for 25 extra flights per week during the summer period. For some flights in the early morning and at the beginning of the night, Eelde applied for an exemption from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
“In the short term, extending the opening hours to the early morning and night cannot be laid down in regulations. In practice, this would mean tolerating flights,” a spokesperson reported. “It is very unlikely that such a decision will stand up in court.”
The ministry was afraid that if a judge intervened in such a decision, it would create new uncertainties for travelers. “Travellers benefit from clarity about their flight this summer.”
The ministry also did not want to attack local residents with flights at night without clearly defined regulations. “Flights until 2 a.m. mean a significant burden for local residents.”
However, according to the ministry, Eelde can try to bring in extra flights within opening hours, between 06:30 and 23:00. The ministry would like to continue to discuss this with the northern airport. However, Minister Mark Harbers (VVD) is not prepared to steer, as he indicated earlier in a parliamentary debate on the issue.
“It is ultimately up to the airlines themselves to decide whether they want to move flights to Groningen Airport Eelde.”