Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport has confirmed that there will be a reduction in commercial flights and capacity for private jets starting from 2024, as stated in its 2024 summer season capacity declaration.
According to the declaration, the total number of flights allowed at the Amsterdam hub will be decreased from March 31, 2024, when the Dutch government’s experimental scheme to reduce noise pollution takes effect.
In the 2024 summer season (March 31 to October 26, 2024), a maximum of 280,645 flights will be permitted, which is around 12,400 fewer flights compared to the summer of 2023. The total number of flights allowed throughout the full operating year (summer and winter) will be capped at 460,000.
Furthermore, there will be a decrease in the number of slots available for private jets, which will go from 17,000 in 2023 to 12,000 in 2024. This aligns with the airport’s previously announced plan to fully prohibit private jets by 2025.
The eight-point plan, released in April, also includes implementing a night curfew, with Schiphol proposing no departures between midnight and 6am, as well as no arrivals between midnight and 5am.
The airport has also enforced a ban on 87 types of aircraft due to noise restrictions. While these aircraft types, such as the Boeing 707 and 737-200, were already not in operation at Schiphol, their inclusion in the 2024 summer capacity document now solidifies the ban.
Aside from capacity cuts and bans, the airport has introduced a new set of cumulative airport charges to promote sustainable aviation. A 9% levy was introduced in 2022, which increased to 12% in 2023 and will gradually rise to 37% by 2025.
The airport has stated that “airlines need to pay five times more when flying with the noisiest and most polluting planes compared to when they use the quietest and cleanest aircraft”.
