A legal challenge to a sudden decision by the Dutch government to cut Schiphol airport’s capacity to limit aircraft noise is being mounted by Iata and airlines.
The Amsterdam hub is already restricted to 500,000 flights a year but the government’s decree would renege on that agreement, reducing connectivity to 460,000 flights from November.
The airline industry body complained that no meaningful consultation was undertaken over the new limits.
Iata argued that the political decision contravenes EU Regulation 598/2014 on noise-related operating restrictions at EU airports.
Iata director general Willie Walsh said: “The Netherlands is handicapping its economy by destroying connectivity. And it is doing it in contravention of EU law and its international obligations.
“The job-destroying hostile approach to aviation that the Dutch government has chosen is a totally disproportionate response to managing noise.
“The government has even refused to engage in meaningful consultations and made flight reductions the goal, rather than working with industry to meet noise and emissions reduction goals while restoring employment and revitalizing the post-pandemic economy.
“The dangerous precedent that this illegal approach creates left no choice but to challenge them in court.”
The airport said it saw a reduction from 500,000 to 460,000 flights a year as a “necessary intermediate step”.
It described the government airport traffic decree, containing “hard environmental limits”, should be initiated as soon as possible.
The airport added: “Schiphol connects the Netherlands to the world. This is of incredible value to our prosperity and well-being. At the same time, we realise that aviation also affects air quality, noise pollution and the climate.
“We are fully committed to reducing noise nuisance and emissions. In order to reconcile these interests, it is important that a new system is put in place soon that protects local residents and offers perspective and clarity for the aviation sector.