According to the EU letter: The Netherlands should cancel the contraction of Schiphol Airport for the time being

Only 460,000 instead of 500,000 – the number of flight movements per year at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol should decrease starting from the summer flight schedule of 2024. But nothing will come of it for now. Transport Minister Mark Harper said on Tuesday, November 14: “Because of the European Commission’s position, I had to make a new assessment.”

Harpers said that the first phase of the planned reduction (the trial provision) will not take effect on March 31, 2024 as previously planned. However, it will continue to adhere to the reduction target, including through the second phase (Balanced Approach Action).

KLM is pleased…

The Minister refers to a letter from the European Commissioner for Transport dated 13 November in which he expressed these concerns about the first phase. “This letter states that the European Commission expressly reserves the right to initiate infringement proceedings against the Netherlands next year.”

The reaction of the Dutch airline KLM was positive. “It is an important step to avoid retaliation and continue traveling to the United States,” a KLM spokesman said, according to the Luchtvaartnieuws portal. US carrier Jetblue had previously lost its 2024 summer slots in Amsterdam, and has since been lobbying the US State Department to restrict KLM in the US – with initial success.

…The airport is disappointed

But the airport said it was “disappointed that residents are losing out.” The burden on them must be reduced significantly. “The importance of closing Schiphol Airport at night has now become more urgent,” the airport said. This also applies to the required ban on private flights and louder aircraft.