A Dutch court has put a stop to government plans to reduce the number of take-offs and landings at Amsterdam-Schiphol to 2023 aircraft movements per year from November 460.000. IATA and KLM, among others, had complained.

Under the guise of "noise and environmental protection" the government of the Netherlands wanted to achieve by restricting aircraft movements that fewer flights departed from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. A court put a stop to the project – at least for the time being. Immediately after the plans were announced, the International Aviation Association (IATA) declared that the plans were not compatible with EU Regulation 598/2014 and Annex 16 of the Chicago Convention of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

A court has now ruled that the restriction of flight movements at Amsterdam-Schiphol is unlawful and repealed the relevant ordinance. However, the government can appeal the decision, so the final word has not yet been spoken. In any case, KLM is pleased with this decision, because at the beginning of May this year the capacity for the winter flight schedule 2023/24 will be finalised. The judgment, which was handed down in preliminary legal protection proceedings under Dutch law, now gives a certain planning certainty.

Commenting on the court's decision, IATA chief Willie Walsh said: "The judge understood that the Dutch government had breached its obligations by curtailing procedures requiring a review of its desire to reduce the number of flights at Schiphol, would have made possible. This decision gives the airlines using Schiphol Airport the stability they need for this year and maintains the choice and connectivity that passengers value.”