Maximum noise limits imposed on Schiphol airport are to be increased to allow for continued growth in take-offs and landings this year, sources have told news agency ANP.

The sources say round-table talks beewen the aviation sector, local residents, and airport management have reached a deal on new limits which will allow up to 480,000 aircraft movements a year by 2010.
Schiphol is set to reach 435,000 flights this year which means it will break noise limits in some areas. Without new standards, the airport would be forced to cancel services.
Hans Alders, the queen’s commissioner in Groningen who chaired the talks, refused to be drawn on Tuesday afternoon. But a spokesman said Alders was ‘pleased’ with the outcome and saw ‘sufficient opportunities’.
Schiphol airport has already said it wants to build new and extend existing runways in order to continue to grow. It also wants to build a new passenger terminal. There is also talk of using the airfield at Lelystad as an annex to the existing location.