From next year, the number of permitted flight movements at Schiphol will be limited to a maximum of 478.000 per year.
The cabinet has decided this in an attempt to reduce noise pollution around the airport and restore the legal position of local residents. The plan is part of a broader package of measures that was previously submitted to the European Commission and should lead to a total reduction of 20% of noise pollution.
Reducing the nuisance around Schiphol has been a headache for the government for some time. In September, the cabinet presented an extensive package of measures to reduce the nuisance for local residents. The new limit for aircraft movements is the keystone of this approach. According to Minister Barry Madlener of Infrastructure and Water Management, the goal is to reduce the number of people seriously inconvenienced by 15%, with the remaining 5% reduction to be completed later this cabinet term.
“We not only want to meet European requirements, but also do justice to the residents in the vicinity of Schiphol,” the minister emphasized.
In determining the new limit, the government carefully weighed the interests of local residents, the aviation sector and the feasibility of the measures in the European context. In September, the government estimated the required reduction at 17%, with a bandwidth of 475.000 to 485.000 flight movements. However, this calculation model proved to be insufficiently stable to draw definitive conclusions. Further calculations showed that a sharper reduction is needed to achieve the targets.
The outcome of this was that the number of flights should decrease to 467.000. However, the cabinet opted for a slightly higher limit to prevent the reduction targets from being labelled as unachievable in the European procedure.
The new maximum number of flight movements is not without obligation. The government has made binding agreements with airlines such as KLM and Schiphol itself. These parties are held responsible for achieving the noise reduction, and the effects of the measures will be closely monitored.
“These are tough measures for the sector, but we have tried to find a balance,” Minister Madlener said. “I understand that some residents had hoped for a further reduction, but with this decision we are taking an important step. The target of a 20% reduction remains.”
challenges in the future
The decision to provisionally realise 15% of the noise reduction means that the cabinet still faces a considerable challenge to achieve the last 5%. This remaining reduction must be filled in later, but it is still unclear what measures are needed for this.
At the same time, it remains a delicate matter to reconcile the interests of the aviation sector and local residents. Schiphol is an important engine of the Dutch economy, but the price that is paid for this by local residents in terms of noise pollution and air pollution, remains a source of social debate.
The cabinet emphasizes that the total noise target of 20% remains the highest priority. "We must proceed carefully and in phases, so that we can achieve this target without taking unnecessary risks," says Minister Madlener.
