Schiphol’s contraction may be postponed again. This was announced in writing by outgoing Minister Mark Harbers (Infrastructure) after parliamentary questions. The government wanted to limit the number of take-offs and landings from 500,000 to 452,500 from 1 November this year, but that now seems ‘unlikely’, according to the ministry. This is because the European Commission still has to take a closer look at the plans for the shrinkage of Schiphol, reports the NOS. In the letter, the minister writes that the government would have liked to have seen things differently. ‘But it is important to follow the prescribed processes and procedures closely and to take the time necessary to achieve a good conclusion.’ The government had already had to postpone a downsizing plan for Schiphol. This was done under pressure from Brussels and the US. In November last year, the European Commission threatened to sue because the Netherlands had not followed the correct procedure. The U.S. threatened to take measures against KLM at New York airport. According to the US, the contraction goes against the so-called Open Skies treaty. It stipulates that airlines have unlimited access to each other’s countries. The shrinkage plans that were initially supposed to take effect next spring were later moved to the winter season. As a result, slots (take-offs and landings) at Schiphol would disappear from the end of this year. That will probably be the summer season now, from April 2025. However, the ministry does not mention a new date. (Photo Shutterstock).
