ACI EUROPE blasts government plans to reduce capacity at Amsterdam Schiphol

ACI EUROPE today condemned the decision by the caretaker Dutch Government to pursue a capacity reduction at Amsterdam Schiphol to 452,500 aircraft movement as of Winter 2024.

It also expressed concerns regarding the conditions under which a ‘temporary’ capacity reduction to 460,000 aircraft movement will be implemented as of Summer 2024.

Olivier Jankovec, director general of ACI EUROPE, said: “The outcome of the Balanced Approach process for noise management conducted for the capacity reduction at Schiphol as of Winter 2024 – as duly required under EU law – is just not acceptable.

Photo courtesy of Roger Cremers.

“Indeed, the caretaker Dutch Government has not sufficiently considered proposed alternative measures that would have allowed the stated noise mitigation targets to be achieved without requiring a capacity reduction at Schiphol.

“Moreover, while the decision to temporarily reduce capacity as of Summer 2024 will provide much-needed legal certainty, it has been taken without conducting the Balanced Approach process.”

He added: “These decisions are about quick political wins ahead of national elections – at the expense of the Dutch economy and jobs.

“We are calling upon the European Commission to urgently ensure the respect of the Balance Approach principles as per EU law.”