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Schiphol airport costs under spotlightFriday 06 February 2009 The transport ministry is to investigate the cost of flying from Schiphol airport because of 'serious concerns' about the airport's declining competitive position on the international market. Transport minister Camiel Eurlings told MPs on Thursday evening that the research group would come up with recommendations within two months. Scrapping the controversial flight tax introduced last July could not be ruled out, Eurlings said. That tax - €11.25 on short-haul and €45 on long-haul flights - has been blamed by the airport authority and airlines for making Schiphol less popular. Last year it emerged that the number of Dutch people traveling via Germany's Weeze airport just over the border by Arnhem had gone up 300%. The ministry's investigation will focus on the costs of security, air traffic control and other elements which add to the cost of flying, Eurlings said. Only London's Heathrow airport is more expensive that Schiphol to fly from, the minister said. The number of passengers using Schiphol fell 9.4% in December but the number of transit passengers - who do not have to pay the flight tax - remained unchanged. 'The situation is extremely serious,' the Volkskrant quoted Eurlings as saying. Last year MPs agreed with a new growth plan for Schiphol, which envisages it handling 589,000 aircraft movements by 2020 - over 150,000 more than it does now. This involves shifting some 70,000 charter and budget airline flights to regional airports. © DutchNews.nl
Quite right Andrew. This isn't rocket science. Long-haul (on-line) example. Return flights:AMS to Bangkok, 640 euros By Michael Dawkes | February 6, 2009 12:24 PM Re the Minister's claims about LHR being more expensive than AMS Schiphol: example 2. KLM (via on-line 'cheap ticket' website) offer, By Michael Dawkes | February 6, 2009 1:47 PM I have been flying KLM for 10 years now and the prices have gone way up. For the past 2 years I've been using other airlines for my international routes. KLM...lower your prices already! By Brock Davis | February 6, 2009 8:44 PM I recently priced KLM "Reward" flights for 2 adults to London UK. Price for taxes and surcharges totalled 272 Euros. It is cheaper to fly by Easyjet than to take the "free" flights earned throgh their loyalty programme. KLM - Definitely time to address your pricing strategy. By CB | February 9, 2009 10:27 AM It is a very good thing, By name | July 30, 2009 3:10 AM
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The rip off fares charged by KLM to fly from AMS don't help. For the same dates, same fare class same destinations the price difference is amazing.
AMS MAN AMS Dep 13/03 Ret 16/03 Take off fare 245 Euro
MAN AMS MAN Dep 13/03 Ret 16/03 Take off fare 129 GBP
Ryanair fly from Weeze for 30 euro each way. Why are KLM ripping off their Dutch customers?
By Andrew | February 6, 2009 10:05 AM