ChristenUnie calls for Lelystad airport project to be put on hold

Building under way on the control tower. Photo: Depositphotos.com
Photo: Depositphotos.com

Coalition party ChristenUnie is upping pressure on the government over Lelystad airport, with one MP saying he ‘cannot imagine’ the current government will go ahead with plans to open it to commercial traffic.

MP Eppo Bruins told broadcaster NOS that the airport cannot currently meet all the conditions needed to open and that it is ‘not necessary’ to continue with the project at present.

The government had hoped to open Lelystad to holiday traffic in 2020 and so allow Schiphol to focus on more lucrative intercontinental flights. The opening has already been delayed twice.

The expansion plans have also led to major protests by people who will be affected by low-flying planes. In addition, last year it emerged that the noise calculations for local residents were wrong and that people will suffer far more aircraft nuisance than expected.

‘Lelystad airport is not an end in itself but was meant to relieve pressure on Schiphol,’ Bruins said. ‘At the moment, Schiphol is largely at a standstill and there is no need for a secondary location.’

The government’s new target date to open the airport is November 2021, Bruins said.

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