Amsterdam calls for ban on late-night flights from Schiphol

The City of Amsterdam is calling on the Dutch government to implement a reduction in the number of flights operating from Schiphol Airport plus a complete ban on flights between the hours of 11pm-7am.

The move is intended to provide a better quality of life for city residents but any final decision must be taken by the national government, which has a 70 percent controlling stake in the airport.

“In recent years, too little attention has been paid to local residents, climate and working conditions. With our refined vision of Schiphol, we as Amsterdam want to contribute to a better balance between the quality of life for local residents and the economy,” wrote Amsterdam’s Deputy Mayor for Airports Hester van Buren on social media network X.

The city wants to reduce the number of flights operating from the airport to 400,000 per year – a 9 percent reduction overall, and to focus on improving international passenger trains to replace short flights.

A distance-dependent air travel tax has also been proposed.

But airport authorities fear a reduction in the number of flights could affect the status of the airport as an international hub.

“We all want a quieter, cleaner and better Schiphol as is well known, and we are also willing to take serious steps towards that, to bring aviation more in balance with the living environment,” a spokesperson from Schiphol Airport told Cities Today.

“It is good that the municipality of Amsterdam supports elements of the measures previously proposed by Schiphol, such as the night closure, phasing out private jets and the distance-dependent tax.

“However, we have concerns about the proposed scale of the measures, which put pressure on the international connection and thus the business climate of the Amsterdam region and the Netherlands.

“Less hindrance and fewer emissions is needed, but we must also focus on balancing the pros and cons. For us, maintaining the Schiphol hub model is of great importance. We informed the municipality about our point of view.”

Government view

A spokesperson from the Dutch Government said no final decision has been made on the proposed changes and the process was “ongoing”.

“The government is currently following the European Balanced Approach procedure, in order to reduce noise nuisance around Schiphol,” the spokesperson said.

“That process is ongoing. In May, the government presented an amended package of measures meant to reduce noise nuisance around the airport. As part of this process, all stakeholders recently have had the opportunity to provide their input. All input will be studied going forward.”

While noise pollution and liveability have been citied as reasons for more restrictions at the airport, the city also says there is an urgent need for new housing which is hampered by the current situation.

According to the Dutch National Construction Plan, 900,000 homes must be built by 2031 – 250,000 of which are needed in the Amsterdam region.

Due to the scarcity of space in the region and the current noise pollution from Schiphol, the city says it is “virtually impossible” to meet the housing construction requirement.

Image: sweder-breet-unsplash