The cabinet wants Schiphol to shrink structurally, report The Telegraph and the AD Thursday based on The Hague sources. The number of flight movements (take-offs and landings) should decrease by at least 10 percent. The 500,000 flight movements per year must also be reduced to 450,000 or even 440,000 in the long term.
Responsible minister Mark Harbers (Infrastructure) did not want to discuss the numbers that have been made during a debate in the House of Representatives The Telegraph calls. “I’m still trying to put that puzzle together,” he emphasized. But various sources in The Hague say they recognize the figures that the newspaper mentions.
The enormous crowds at Schiphol recently would not be the main reason that the airport should shrink. The cabinet would have already decided to reduce the number of flights, it reports AD†
The noise nuisance caused by the airport for local residents would now be the deciding factor. It has been known for some time that Schiphol does not meet the noise standards, but other measures would have been insufficient.
In addition, Schiphol should receive a new nature permit this year, but that would cause problems. And the nitrogen problem also plays a role, let an insider tell you The Telegraph know.
The coalition agreement already stated that nuisance for local residents had to be reduced. However, Schiphol’s network quality should be preserved.
It is not yet clear when the number of take-offs and landings should be reduced. Earlier on Thursday it was announced that Schiphol will cancel extra flights this summer to cope with the crowds. The two decisions are independent of each other.