A waterbed effect would not automatically occur if Maastricht Aachen Airport (MAA) were to be closed.
flight space
The flying space that then arises in the airspace above South Limburg will not automatically be filled by aircraft from Bierset Airport near Liège. This is only possible if the ministries of infrastructure and defense as the competent authority give permission for this. This became clear during the so-called fourth technical information meeting about MAA for the State Commission for Economy.
At a previous meeting, a number of parties had asked for clarification on this point.
‘Many more flights’
For example, a former air traffic controller announced in February last year that if MAA was closed, the use of South Limburg airspace below three kilometers would almost certainly be delegated to Belgian air traffic control. With many more flights as a result.
“It took a lot of pressure to get clarity from the two ministries. But a possible closure of MAA does not just lead to a shift of the airspace to Belgium,” it was made clear from the official side. This does not mean that there is a guarantee that this is excluded at all times. But it will always be looked at very critically. It is also up to the province to keep its finger on the pulse, was the official message.
Also read: ‘Closing MAA causes more nuisance at Liège airport’
40 million euros in damages
During the technical briefing, it was also reported that according to an initial rough estimate, if MAA closes, some 40 million euros in compensation would have to be paid to the maintenance companies based at the airport, of which Samco and Maas are the largest.
The companies themselves are thinking of quadrupling the amount if it comes to that.
In the meeting it was also announced that the aldermen of several municipalities around the airport, in a consultation with Deputy Stephan Satijn (VVD), insisted that the presentation of an initial proposal on the future of MAA be moved beyond the municipal elections of 16 March. .
The provincial government wanted to send that proposal to the Limburg Parliament on 8 March, in which no choice has yet been made, but only the advantages and disadvantages of the various scenarios are listed. But the aldermen feared that the proposal would then run through the election campaign.
Pros and cons
CDA, VVD, D66 and PvdA – good for 19 of the 47 seats – said they could live with the request for a postponement. “I get it. We have to keep it as neutral as possible,” said CDA member of parliament Wouter IJpelaar. SVL, Party for the Animals and 50Plus – together 7 seats – were against. “It’s about two different things. As the Limburg Parliament, we have nothing to do with that problem. It is up to the municipalities to solve this themselves,” said party leader Anne Marie Fischer.
Next Friday, the groups will make the decision on the request. If the answer is yes, the first proposal will be published on 22 March.
What is certain is that June 3 remains the date on which the Limburg Parliament takes a decision on the future of MAA.