Airlines for Europe (A4E), European Regions Airline Association (ERA), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) are pushing back against Amsterdam Schiphol’s cap on flight capacity to 478,000 flights per year. The companies underscore the importance of following the European Commission’s advice, which supports a more balanced strategy for noise management and safeguards the Single Market’s integrity.
“The European Commission has carefully evaluated each proposed measure,” said Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of Airlines for Europe. “The Commission’s observations can’t simply be ignored. We stand by our members as they explore legal avenues to ensure that noise mitigation efforts are fair, effective and proportionate.”
Despite active innovations in noise reduction, Dutch officials’ decision to impose noise reduction regulations such as capping annual flights poses a concerning challenge. Arbitrary reductions in capacity also have the potential to discourage future investments in quieter and more fuel-efficient aircraft.
The Dutch gov's approach to noise at Schiphol raises serious concerns. Targeting only commercial aviation is discriminatory & risks discouraging investment in cleaner aircraft.
— Airlines for Europe (A4E) (@A4Europe) April 4, 2025
Together with @eraaorg & @IATA, we call for fair, effective solutions. #Schiphol #Aviation pic.twitter.com/VfKKPqX38i
“Noise reduction must be the focus, not unnecessary flight reduction and restrictions that come at the expense of connectivity. ERA advocates for a collaborative, evidence-based approach to address noise concerns, rather than unilateral capacity restrictions that disrupt connectivity and the Single Market,” said Montserrat Barriga, Director General of ERA.
The cut is expected to reduce airport noise pollution by 15%. Previously, Schiphol had a limit of 500,000 which was 4.4% more than current capacity. In the past, Schiphol introduced other regulations to reduce noise pollution including night-time flight restrictions, ban on private jets, investment in local environment, abandonment of additional runway plans, and phasing out the noisiest aircrafts.
These rules, however, have been criticized for being focused solely on commercial aviation and excluding general and business aviation, despite their contribution to noise levels. This exclusion is seen as biased and goes against the principles of equal treatment and open market access.
The Dutch government & @MinisterIenW have not properly followed the Balanced Approach @Schiphol airport & a new BA https://t.co/K4Qf721aWO is urgently needed before any flight reductions can be contemplated.
— IATA (@IATA) April 4, 2025
See our release with @A4Europe & @eraaorg 👇 https://t.co/Hcnxrvjgvi pic.twitter.com/EUrtMvnFMX
Even though individual aircraft have become 75% less noisy over the last 30 years, the growing air traffic means that many EU citizens are still exposed to high noise levels. As a result, the European Community adopted Regulation (EU) No 598/2014 which is compliant with international principles on noise management, the so-called “Balanced Approach”, recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Balanced approach comprises four elements:
– Introducing operational restrictions.
– Adapting operational procedures to reduce the noise impact on the ground.
– Making aeroplanes quieter by setting noise standards.
– Managing the lands around airports in a sustainable way.
“Contrary to the Dutch Government’s claims, the EU Commission’s assessment specifically states that the Dutch Government ‘did not fully follow’ the Balanced Approach at Schiphol,” said Rafael Schvartzman, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Europe. “Most fundamentally, the process cannot be driven by a predetermination that annual operations must be reduced to a certain level. The Minister’s failure to adhere to the prescribed procedure and misinterpretation of the EU Decision undermines the integrity of the BA process across the EU as a whole and the Netherlands’ legal obligations under air services agreements. A new BA is urgently required to rectify these findings prior to any implementation of flight reductions.”
