KLM blindsided by Schiphol plans to scrap night flights

Plans by Schiphol to scrap night flights and ban private jets by 2025 have not gone down well with Dutch flagship carrier KLM, which accuses the airport of flying solo.

Schiphol chief Ruud Sondag said the airport was still intent on connecting the Netherlands with the rest of the world but had to ‘do it in a better way’.

‘We have to make less noise and become cleaner faster. We need to be sustainable for the benefit of our workers, the environment and the world. I realise out choices will have a big impact on the sector but they are needed,’ Sondag said in a statement on the Schiphol website.

Calculations by the airport have shown that 17,500 people – some 16% of those experiencing serious noise disruption – will experience some relief as a result of the measures, which will also reduce the number of people with sleeping problems by over half.

Schiphol is also scrapping plans for a new runway. The measures will hit holiday flights most, particularly those carried out by KLM subsidiary Transavia, which favours early morning and late-night slots. Transfers, from the United States for example, will also be affected.

‘One-sided suggestions’

The flagship carrier said in a short statement that Sondag’s ‘one-sided suggestions’ had come as a surprise, particularly since there had been no prior discussion with other parties in the sector..

KLM said it wants to achieve ‘a balance between airport activity and the needs of the environment and the climate’ but said that balance could only be reached by involving all parties.

It also announced talks with the infrastructure ministry in which other airlines based at Schiphol, partner Delta Airlines as well as sector organisations will participate ‘no later than June 15’ and where they will present their own plans.  KLM said Sondag would be welcome to attend as well.

Environmental organisation Greenpeace said it was happy with the plans. ‘At last Schiphol is acknowledging that things can’t go on the way it has. It’s become too busy and it’s become a huge nuisance to the people living close to nature and the climate. Not flying during the night is the least it can do,’ spokesman Maarten de Zeeuw told broadcaster NOS.

The ban on private jets is also long overdue, he said. ‘This type of transport is shameless in times of climate change. We’re glad Schiphol is finally listening,’