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Space for 483,000 flights at Schiphol in 2024

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‘By 2024, there will be room for 483,000 flights at Schiphol. For the summer season (31 March – 26 October), Schiphol intends to offer space for 293,000 flights; provided that peak hours are relieved’, dToday, Schiphol informed the airlines, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the slot coordinator. This is the outcome of five weeks in which, at the request of the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Schiphol had to reassess capacity for the summer season after he announced on 14 November that he would withdraw the experimental scheme. In doing so, he asked to take into account the capacity at Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL), the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee and Customs. Subsequently, Schiphol held various discussions with airlines. In recent weeks, it has become clear that a limited reduction is needed at peak times of the day to enable a safe and stable operation. Airlines have pledged to contribute to this.

The 293,000 flights for the 2024 summer season are more than the 280,000 previously claimed by Schiphol. That number was derived from the annual total of 460,000 flights as included in the experimental scheme. In the calendar year 2023, Schiphol expects to have a total of approximately 433,000 flights.
‘At the request of the minister, we looked again at what was operationally possible after the experimental scheme had been taken off the table. So it is now possible to fly more, but this can only be done safely and responsibly if we can reduce the peak crowds at certain hours. The busy peak times require a major effort from the entire aviation sector and government partners involved. In order to offer travellers a pleasant and safe journey, we desperately need each other at the airport. This has been discussed a lot with each other in recent weeks and everyone is aware of that. It is good to see that airlines are willing to cooperate in reducing peak congestion,’ says Patricia Vitalis (Executive Director Operations at Royal Schiphol Group).
‘The independent slot coordinator will now discuss with airlines how flights can be reduced during the peaks. Preferably voluntarily and otherwise this is done via a mandatory statement from the slot coordinator. Compliance with these agreements is crucial, in the interest of a safe and pleasant journey for everyone at Schiphol.’ Schiphol includes the extra number of flights in a so-called addendum. This addendum is in addition to the previous capacity declaration for summer 2024, in which Schiphol assumed an annual total of 460,000 flights. In the addendum, the minister asked Schiphol to take into account the capacity of the LVNL, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee and Customs. After Schiphol made an inventory of their capacity, the airport discussed with airlines what was possible. The analysis of recent weeks has shown that the peak in the morning, when many large aircraft with many passengers arrive at the same time, can lead to problems throughout the process, including long queues. By reducing the capacity in one of the morning peaks from 68 to 65 arrivals per hour, this pressure is relieved. The consultation for the winter season (27 October 2024 – 30 March 2025) will follow later in 2024.

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