Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has confirmed that private jets will bear the brunt of moves to reduce traffic at the Dutch gateway next year and that it will press ahead with a ban on noisier aircraft. In a statement issued yesterday, the airport declared that from March 31, 2024, just 12,000 business aviation movements will be permitted over a 12-month period. That represents a 30 percent cut on the current 17,000 limit, with 7,200 of the new limit allocated for the summer operating period.
Out of an overall new annual movement ceiling of 460,000 (reduced from 500,000), under Schiphol’s new capacity declaration only 280,645 movements will be allowed in the next summer period, ending on Oct. 26, 2024. This represents a cut of 12,400 flights compared with the 2023 summer period now drawing to a close. In its latest statement, the airport reiterated its objective to eventually eliminate all private aviation from Schiphol and to introduce a new night curfew.
The new ruling follows indications by the Dutch government earlier this month that it would scale back plans unveiled in April for a new overall annual movement limit for Schiphol of 440,000. On September 1, media reports in the Netherlands suggested the new limit might be capped at 452,000 movements. While the overall 460,000-movement limit is more than anticipated, the confirmed policy is more restrictive during the summer months and severely restricts private aviation.
The airport also published a list of 87 older aircraft types it says are “no longer welcome at Schiphol,” but, apart from King Airs and Gulfstream Is, none are business aircraft. Airlines will now be made to pay five times the standard landing fees to operate the noisiest and most polluting aircraft.
The Dutch government, which is the majority shareholder in Schiphol airport, has come under political pressure from foreign governments, including the U.S., not to implement movement cuts in a way that could compromise access to slots by international airlines. At the same time, industry groups, including the European Business Aviation Association, have demanded that the planned new policy should be suspended until after the country’s general election on November 22 and pending ongoing legal challenges.
The new 12,000-movement limit for business aircraft at Schiphol compares with a current ceiling of 50,000 annual movements at Farnborough Airport in the London area. Farnborough's management has started a process aimed at increasing this to 70,000 movements.