KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has publicly supported the Dutch government’s new measures aimed at reducing nighttime noise pollution at Amsterdam Schiphol, which includes cutting aircraft movements to between 475,000 and 485,000 annually, resulting in approximately 5,000 fewer movements and a shift to quieter aircraft at night.
The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure’s recent package aims to decrease noise pollution by 17pc and will be reviewed by the European Commission before final legislative action, emphasizing the importance of quieter aircraft and higher fees for noisier planes.
KLM and Transavia have committed to upgrading their fleets by 2025 to reduce noise, with KLM introducing modern A321-200NX aircraft as part of this initiative. The plans also involve a reduction in allowed night flights from 32,000 to 27,000.
The proposals follow a Dutch Supreme Court ruling that any capacity reduction at Schiphol must adhere to a “balanced approach” required by the EU, and there are concerns from KLM about potential loss of historic slots affecting international connections for the Netherlands as a trading nation.
