Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport has announced that it wants to stop all night flights and ban private jets by 2025 to reduce noise and emissions.
The Dutch hub has already been told by the country’s government to reduce the number of annual flights over the next two years.
Now, Schiphol is proposing that there should be no departures between midnight and 6am, as well as no arrivals landing at the airport between midnight and 5am.
The airport also wants to abandon plans for a second Kaagbaan runway, as well as banning private jets and the “noisiest” aircraft. Schiphol hopes to implement all these measures “no later” than 2025-2026.
Dutch airline KLM said it was “astonished” by Schiphol’s announcement and criticised the airport for not consulting industry parties in the process.
Ruud Sondag, CEO of the Royal Schiphol Group, said the airport needed to become “quieter and cleaner more rapidly”.
“We need to be sustainable for our employees, the local environment and the world. I realise that our choices may have significant implications for the aviation industry, but they are necessary,” added Sondag.
“This shows we mean business. It is the only way, based on concrete measures, to regain the trust of employees, passengers, neighbours, politics and society.”
Schiphol wants to ban private jets because they cause a “disproportionate amount” of noise nuisance and CO2 emissions per passenger – creating around 20 times more carbon dioxide per passenger than a commercial flight.
"About 30 per cent to 50 per cent of these private jet flights are to holiday destinations like Ibiza, Cannes and Innsbruck," said the airport. "Sufficient scheduled services are available to the most popular destinations flown to by private jets."
KLM said in a statement: “We are astonished that Schiphol is unilaterally putting forward proposals that will have far-reaching consequences for airlines, without involving the industry parties in this process.
“Only through a collaborative, sector-wide approach can the aviation industry achieve a balance between its surroundings and the climate. Together, we can arrive at an alternative that will have the support of all parties and will therefore be effective.”
KLM added that it would consult with strategic partner Delta and aviation organisations before submitting its views on Schiphol’s plans to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management by 15 June.