Here’s a positive development, though the uncertainty and back-and-forth of all of this is simply absurd.
Continue reading: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Suspends 2024 Flight Cap Plans
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
"Shouldn’t the people operating the airport be in favor of as much airport service as possible, since that’s how they generate revenue and serve the public?"
That is not how government workers think, they would rather work less and get paid the same if not more and disguise their laziness as being pro-environment. Simple really.
“ The United States Department of Transportation had threatened to retaliate against the Netherlands, in the form of possibly restricting flights to the United States from Dutch airlines. Was that one of the reasons?”
Given the timing, yes.
Especially Dutch government workers... They always like to show their political colours..
Lol whoopsies
Be funny if the US just went ahead with the retaliatory restrictions
Great news for sure! I do believe global warming exists but absolutely being handled wrong by most governments. De-forestation and placing cement where grass and dirt used to be is the largest cause by far for warmer air and worse weather. All this electric car and flight cap BS is a waste of energy and effort.
Collapsing in favor of an US administration.
What a shame, politics as its best, to force KLM to reduce its most profitable routes !
I love the people that voluntary decided to live close to an airport then complaints the airport is too noisy because I’m sure they did never notice how noisy an aircraft can be.
On top of that a big part of residents close to Schiphol work at Schiphol, lol.
Entitled first world people.
Careful referring to woke policies as absurd. You're risking the loss of some virtue signaling points.
It's being reported in the Dutch press that this is due to influence from the US government. So yes, the DOT definitely had a play in this.
Having lived in the Netherlands for many years, I'm not surprised to see this reversal. It's often how things work here. A controversial decision is put out there, there's a lot of discussion and debate, and then often times there is a reversal/no-go when the decision is under pressure or too controversial and common sense prevails. This happened regularly during COVID with the constantly changing measures and the various proposals around them. Above all, the Netherlands is a society where consensus is most important and people/bodies don't like to stick their neck out to make difficult decisions unless there's widespread consensus and support. This was never a very popular decision and then the DOT pushback finally drove common sense.
And I can see why the airport is upset, because this is no way to make policy. They need consistency and a clear message of what is to come, rather than these types of flip flops that only add uncertainty beyond the short term. The airport and airlines need a long-term vision that they can plan around, rather than just a one-year suspension that will go through this entire process again in the future.
Ben, perhaps you don't fully understand how entrenched the environmentalists in Europe are. The cap was an attempt to get at least some of the more moderate ones out of their trench - which now has failed. This confirms the more extremist once in their fundamentalist stance.
'...was local residents are getting the short end of the stick...'
I think it is safe to say that most 'local' residents were aware that Schiphol existed prior to moving to its vicinity since the airport started commercial operations at the end of WW I. If the resident does not like the airport, and as far as I know Netherlands is a free country, the resident is free to move!
The rumor is that the government is waiting for the AF\KLM takeover of SAS so they can add that in the mix and not hurt AFKLM as a company before they can move slots to CPH
Why go with a piecemeal plan of just 10% reduction? I think Shiphol should go all way in with the green agenda - just close the entire airport!
While this is probably a rare case where Delta and JetBlue are on the same page and each whispered into the DoT's ears, I suspect alot of other non-EU countries as well as the EU also told the Dutch to back off since AMS is in the EU, the Hague is not far down the road, and the moves made to cut AMS capacity have significant implications for the broader EU.
There are ways to change slot allocations but the Dutch didn't follow them.
Still, many environmentalists have tried to push their agenda above everything else and outside of existing laws and this is a wakeup call that the western world is still governed by a rule of law.
Sometimes growth is not good. Exceeding capacity leading to inability to provide proper service. Over crowding. Just like the over crowded lounges you write about and discuss possible ways to limit access. The airport is saying they can’t handle the volume. Dutch people are saying they’re having problems getting in and out of their own country. Big business says too bad. Suck it up and don’t impair our ability to earn more at any cost. What’s not to understand?
If airlines pull back because the airport can't handle the proposed demand (which rarely happens in the US) that's a good thing. When they do it for woke points it's not a good thing.
I would imagine USDOT wasn't the only one throwing a fit with the Dutch. Lots of flag carriers at AMS have only one destination in and out of the airport. I'm sure these respective Asian & Euro governments gave their respective Dutch ambassadors an ear full.
Also, AMS is a SIGNIFICANT cargo airport. Another batch of governments baying for the blood of the Dutch!! I can see why AMS turned tail.
Yep, I can see some type of time of day restriction and/or eliminate noisy airframes. Or auction off some slots like Heathrow. However, this trial ballon popped before it got off the ground.
At the end of the day, the Dutch will usually go for the most lucrative option.
That is nuts! Worry about a few neighbors being inconvenienced? The whole world connects through AMS! Also, the airport was there years before the neighbors were. Todays aircraft are significantly quieter and more efficient than a decade ago, think of all the people who would face lost their jobs. Ticket counter and gate agents. Baggage handlers, fueling staff, catering staff…then hotels, rental car companies. Restaurants and in airport vendors. Hey gang, wake up and look at the big picture! I’m glad The Netherlands woke up and did the right thing!
The stupidity of the response from Schiphol Airport Authority that they are disappointed. The air should want to grow not shrink and lay off staff etc
Capacity constraints should be solved by providing more capacity, not artificially limiting growth.
This is insanity and very sloppy. The Government needs to wipe the slate clean with management at the airport and start fresh. And "residents" that are upset need to move.
Which country would that be?
Because if you're naive enough to believe that anything sprang from actual concern for emissions, then congratulations: you're the mark.
What exactly is "a shame" about being reminded that you signed a particularly treaty, and thus don't have the freedom to unilaterally restrict, bind, and/or abrogate the subjects of said treaty?
Did you put the slightest bit of thought into any of this?
Ben, perhaps you don't fully understand how entrenched the environmentalists in Europe are.
Wait, hold up... you mean to tell us that the people who glue themselves to runways, might be a fanatical in their devotion/approach?!
Yeah, mark it down folks:
....the ONE time that hegemony isn't being used to disenfranchise the greater public!
Except that the only reason capacity is allegedly being exceeded is because of refusal to grow, implemented for the same dubious reasons as this lazily-conceived cap.
Akin to sticking thumbtacks in one's own feet, then complaining of inability to walk.
It is the Dutch government that is the cause of the insanity, and it is the voters who need to wipe the slate clean.
Not sure if it is a good news...maybe they should cut more flights actually - Schiphol still struggles with the basic service - if your flight is cancelled and badly delayed ( esp if you fly with KLM ) - you will have to deal with huge problems, queues and lack of any kind of support; personally I avoid Amsterdam and KLM like a plague. I don't believe the situation will improve significantly any time soon.
Such a “Dutch” response!! Lol!
I spent 4 months there as a student, and “organizational skills” was not one of their strengths! Lots of ideas, poor/no execution!
One can also interpret that as a convient excuse to say it's not our fault It's another country, regardless of the validity of that accusation. If I was the Dutch govt I would be thrilled for that to be the narrative on social media.
That's how life works. Look at all the people who decided to drive for Uber and lyft and then complained that it's not a good full time job even though ride share was marketed as a side gig and not full time job. Inconvenient details.
Not to mention many US allies benefits from not having to spend huge sums of money on defense because the US is at the front.
Perhaps that child should STOP boating around the world and join the real world! Hate that miserable little puppet.
Great news. A more effective ban is limit the type of aircraft. So minimum 120 passenger aircraft. This would be better
Greta lost credibility when she intervens in Hamas israel fight. She thinks she has monopoly on justice.
Gosh, the comments go crazy.
Unless you live in The Netherlands (I don’t), it’s silly to comment on the politics. You don’t have the knowledge.
But from an airline perspective, it’s a good thing.
It was in fact mostly down to pressure from KLM who, along with a number of other airlines, are suing the airport authority. Even their CEO mentioned Jet Blue should be permitted to operate flights.
The response from the Schiphol Airport Authority is a joke, that they are disappointed. It’s not in their interest to reduce flights and therefore lay off staff and reduce revenue .
I love how many commenters are outright convinced that this has something to do with the US DOT 😀 It's always people with the least knowledge who are most convinced of their opinion...
We as a species deserve everything we get. We are terrible stewards of our planet. Crazy how far we've fallen in just 30 years, considering how successful the Montreal Protocol was.
"Unless you live in The Netherlands (I don’t), it’s silly to comment on the politics. You don’t have the knowledge."
That's the least logical conclusion I've ever heard on here, lol.
Flying into AMS that last two summers has been particularly painful with a 90 minute customs line entering, and an over 2 hour line at security when departing. They seemed to be experiencing a major staffing shortage during peak season. My guess is they wanted to cap flights because they knew they were ill-prepared to handle the capacity for another busy summer--especially one with Olympics travel in Europe.