The Netherlands government plans to cut down on night flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to reduce noise pollution. This decision was announced by Infrastructure Minister Mark Harbers in a letter to parliament.
In March, a local court ordered the government to take stronger actions to decrease noise pollution. This led to the new measures aiming to reduce the disturbance caused by aircraft at one of Europe’s busiest airports.
Currently, Schiphol Airport handles 32,000 night flights per year. By 2025, this number will be reduced to 27,000. The reduction aims to make the nights quieter for people living near the airport.
The government plans to ban the loudest aircraft, such as the Boeing 747-400, from flying between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. This ban will also take effect in 2025. Airlines are encouraged to use quieter aircraft to minimize noise during these hours.
Harbers mentioned that the government is considering a complete or partial closure of Schiphol Airport during the night starting in November 2026. This idea was supported by Schiphol’s CEO in local media last year.
To push airlines towards using quieter planes, Schiphol Airport will increase the costs for using noisy aircraft. This move is expected to incentivize companies to invest in less noisy models.
Previous year, the Dutch government, with support from Schiphol, tried to limit the total number of flights to around 450,000 per year, which is about 10% less than in 2019. This effort was aimed at reducing noise pollution.
However, the government faced strong opposition from the aviation industry and the European Union. The EU argued that other methods to reduce noise should be considered first. As a result, Schiphol announced it would handle up to 483,000 flights in the current year.
The government’s new plans highlight the significance of balancing the needs of the aviation industry with the well-being of residents affected by airport noise. By 2025, significant changes will be implemented to ensure a quieter environment around Schiphol Airport.
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