Since the Covid crisis, Amsterdam Schiphol airport seems to be permanently in the eye of the stormThis was due both to Dutch political circles and the airport management. Nothing seems to spare the platform which could ultimately suffer from a widely degraded image.
The authoritarian reduction in the number of flights by the Dutch government from 2024 is already beginning to produce its first effects. Many airlines are now being denied access to the airport, which is a major hub on the continent for the 2024 season.
In 2022, Schiphol was Europe's 4th busiest hub with 52.5 million passengersbehind IstanbulLondon Heathrow and Paris CDG. From January to September 2023, the airport welcomed 46.5 million passengers. This represents an increase of 17% compared with the same period in 2022.
It is certain that Amsterdam will experience a less favourable trend in 2024. Schiphol is to reduce the number of authorised flights from the current annual limit of 500,000 to 460,000 from 31 March 2024. This Dutch government measure aims to reduce noise pollution and CO2 emissions.
All existing companies will be affected, in particular the national carrier KLM. The airline estimates that it will have to suspend 17 daily flights over the summer.. No routes have yet been announced, but the majority are expected to be European routes. There are also plans to transfer certain routes operated by the low-cost subsidiary Transavia to Eindhoven or Rotterdam.
Many other airlines, such as Delta Air Lines and Air India, have been refused new slots. Generally speaking, the airlines already present will have to reduce the number of flights by an average of 3.1%..
As for airlines with no "historic" rights (i.e. a presence of several years), they are now denied access to Schiphol. Like the American carrier JetBlue, which will no longer be able to land at the airport as a new entrant compared to 2023.
The company has lodged a complaint against the Netherlands and the European Union with the US Department of Transportation regarding plans to reduce traffic at Schiphol. It believes that the air transport agreement between the United States and the European Union has in effect become null and void. The company has requested retaliatory measures from the US Civil Aviation Authority. Like the ban on KLM landing at New York-JFK.
A misfortune never comes alone, at the same time, the airport has announced a significant increase in airport taxes. Much more important than it was originally intended to be.
In 2024, Schiphol to increase airport charges not of 12 %, as planned, but of 14,8 %. An additional increase that the airport management justifies by the loss of revenue in 2022, due to travel restrictions caused by Covid. This should result in a likely increase in air fares from and via Schiphol. A situation which does not suit Air France-KLM, whose Amsterdam hub is a key element in its global strategy.
