What flight shame? Airport passenger numbers rise again

Photo: DutchNews.nl
Photo: DutchNews.nl

Despite concerns about the environmental impact of flying more people are taking the plane to travel outside the Netherlands, national statistics agency CBS said on Friday.

In the first three months of this year, Dutch airports processed 17.1 million people – a new record. Five years ago the number of passengers moving through Dutch airports hit 14 million in the first quarter.

All airports booked a boost in passenger numbers apart from Groningen. The rise was biggest – 65% – at Maastricht Aachen airport but as a small airport a few new destinations can cause a major leap, the CBS points out.

The number of people flying via Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport rose 1.7% to 15.5 million people, as the airport nears its legal capacity limits.

The summer months are the busiest at airports and if the trend continues, 2019 will be a record year for air travel, the CBS said.

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