The new coalition government in The Hague has shredded the concept announced by the previous cabinet to reduce flight movements at Schiphol. Instead, it is proposing a package of measures to lower aircraft noise sustainably and permanently, thereby reducing the noise pollution for local residents. Although a clear concept is still lacking, the trend is clear: aircraft noise at and around Schiphol is to be reduced by 20%. The sooner, the better.
A heavy burden has fallen from the shoulders of KLM managers: The feared cut of slots at Amsterdam Schiphol, which would have affected the carrier’s entire network, is off the table. This also applies to the night flight ban demanded by local initiatives. Scaling down aircraft movements was a core part of the aviation traffic policy of the previous government, listed high up on the political agenda of Markus Gerardus Harbers, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management and responsible for aviation matters. According to his scheme, movements at Amsterdam Airport were to be reduced from the currently allowed 500,000 takeoffs and departures to 450,000 or 460,000 per year.
The wind has turned
Harbers and Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, justified the initiative by emphasizing that residents must be protected from aircraft noise more efficiently, combined with lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Both targets were vigorously supported by the city of Amsterdam, including Schiphol’s Airport management.
However, since the coalition consisting of various right-wing populist parties came to power in mid-May, the wind has changed. Protecting the population from aircraft noise is essential, but also supporting civil aviation and safeguarding the many jobs at Schiphol Airport and its suppliers, is at the top of new Dutch government’s national air transport agenda.
KLM’s “Action Plan” leads the way
The framework of the program has now been outlined publicly for the first time by Harbers’ successor, Minister Barry Madlener. The occasion was the arrival of KLM’s first Airbus A321neo at Schiphol Airport. “KLM’s new aircraft will help to reduce noise pollution. It’s a combination of measures: in addition to new aircraft, there are differentiated tariffs, flight paths, the distribution between day and night flights, and a comprehensive package of measures to achieve the goal of a 20% noise reduction within a few years,” stated Mr. Madlener.
Program of combined measures
When addressed by the politician, KLM managers attending the event confirmed intentions to acquire between eighty and one hundred new aircraft in the coming years, mostly single aisle jetliners but also A350 freighters. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions and substantially lowers aircraft noise. Observers interpret the politician’s reference to a ‘combination of measures’ as an indication that he is in favor of the comprehensive program presented by KLM as an alternative to Mr. Harbers’ former slot reduction proposals.
In a nutshell, these are the most important measures of the “Action Plan”: Accelerating the fleet renewal by introducing next generation aircraft which burn 25% less fuel and are up to 40% quieter than KLM’s current fleet. Deploying the quietest aircraft at night is another cornerstone of the program, as are higher airport charges for noisy aircraft, forcing operators to serve AMS with their newest equipment.
Fleet renewal comes first
KLM management points out that the different measures, if embedded in a holistic strategy, can make a major contribution to lowering noise emissions at Schiphol and the surrounding area. A reduction target of at least 48% throughout the day and 43% at night by 2030 compared to 2023, is mentioned in the “Action Plan”. Priority is given to the renewal of home carrier KLM’s own fleet, as this makes the greatest contribution to noise reduction and should therefore be accelerated, management explains.
On the occasion of the arrival of the first A321neo in Schiphol, Minister Madlener emphasized that airlines can expect to have an economic future. His cabinet intends to safeguard the balance existing between aviation needs and residents’ expectations at Dutch airports. “We recognize the noise issues faced by the group of neighbors at Schiphol, who feel the government is not adequately protecting them. We will never make everybody happy, but I will do my best to handle this in the right way.”
Please stay tuned!
