Dutch government 2023-2024 flight cap on Schiphol airport overturned by courts

The Dutch government’s announcement to cap the number of flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport at 460,000 for November 2023 – October 2024, has been overturned by courts. The intention behind the cap was to provide a temporary solution to the problem of noise pollution and several other environmental issues. However, a number of airlines, including KLM, took the government to court and this Wednesday, April 5, the plan was overturned.

The case presented by the airlines was that the cap would both hurt not just the airlines, but travellers and also the Dutch economy. In addition, it was pointed out that no alternative workable solutions to the main problems of flight numbers had been taken into account. Beyond this, it was also pointed out that the government plans had not been properly vetted and that based on the cap agreed back in 2015, investments had already been made to cope for that capacity.

The Noord Holland District Court, in a preliminary decision, said the government had “not followed the correct procedure” in deciding to impose the limit. “The state must consult with all interested parties and a reduction in the number of flight movements is only allowed when it is clear that other measures to reduce noise nuisance are not sufficient.”

In a joint statement, Greenpeace, the Dutch arm of Friends of the Earth and two other environmental groups stated that they were disappointed by the ruling, and fewer flights are needed for residents and to combat local pollution and global warming. “This ruling may lead to delay, but the shrinking of Schiphol is coming,” they said. KLM said in response it was satisfied with the decision and it believed that noise and other kinds of pollution could be reduced in other ways. The Transport Ministry, which is investigating a more stringent cap on flights for the 2024-2025 season, said it was studying the ruling and considering “possible follow-up actions”.