There are mixed reactions to the government’s decision to reduce the maximum number of flights at Schiphol from November next year from 500,000 to 440,000 per year. Environmental organizations and residents’ groups are happy with it. The interest group for the airlines at Schiphol is surprised, disappointed and believes that the cabinet is ‘consciously killing the aviation industry’ with this.
The cabinet has opted for downsizing to tackle noise pollution, but expects to be able to maintain Schiphol’s economic function with 440,000 flights per year. Mirella Visser of the Uithoorn residents’ organization PUSH calls the decision ‘great’. According to Visser, residents of Uithoorn and Aalsmeer have suffered the most from Schiphol’s growth in recent years.
“This growth has largely been at the expense of residents living near the Aalsmeerbaan”, Visser told NH Nieuws. She expects the shrinkage of Schiphol to benefit Aalsmeer and Uithoorn. Sijas Akkerman, director of the Noord-Holland Nature and Environmental Federation, told NH Nieuws that he found the decision ‘historic’. “The protection of local residents is finally more important than the growth of Schiphol.
great uncertainty
Schiphol believes that the plans of the cabinet lead to great uncertainty and much remains unclear. “We see that major risks are being taken with the quality of the network. By going back to the old noise system, there is a threat of a shift in noise pollution that is not good for the environment.”
Dramatic
KLM is incensed: “The decision by the Dutch government to downsize Schiphol is dramatic for KLM and for the accessibility of the Netherlands, while the desired impact on climate and quality of life is not being achieved.” According to society, shrinkage is at odds with the coalition agreement†
Text continues below tweet.
In shock
IATA, the global airline cooperation body, said in a statement that it was “in shock”. “With this decision, the Dutch government claims that it can reduce noise pollution and nitrogen emissions, while aviation is only responsible for 1 percent of those emissions.” IATA expects more noise nuisance for local residents, because Schiphol has to revise the use of runways.
Turning the neck
The interest group for airlines at Schiphol, Barin, is surprised and disappointed: “It seems strongly that the cabinet is deliberately trying to kill aviation and thus make the Netherlands the ugly duckling of Europe.” Director Marnix Fruitema expects airports in neighboring countries to benefit from Schiphol’s shrinkage.
Labor unions
The Association for Commercial Pilots (VNV) finds the cabinet decision ‘unwise, unnecessary and harmful to the Netherlands and the Dutch’. The FNV trade union wants an ‘aviation fund’ that generously compensates for any job loss.
The Schiphol Administrative Board (BRS), the partnership of 56 municipalities and four provinces in the Schiphol region, is pleased with the move. “We see that the minister has adopted the position of the BRS that the quality of the living environment is central. That is of great importance,” said Noord-Holland deputy Jeroen Olthof. “A healthy and safe living environment for our residents stands for us ahead.”