The airlines maintain that the Dutch government’s unilateral and sudden decision to reduce Schiphol’s capacity from 500,000 to 460,000 flight annual movements (with the ultimate goal of reducing flight movements to 440,000 by 2024) is incomprehensible. The airlines have already made multi-billion euros investments to meet near- and long-term goals in line with their own decarbonization trajectories as well as government policies, while the government’s justification hinges on operational restrictions with no consideration of alternative workable solutions to effect noise reduction.

In addition to negatively impacting the Dutch economy, the capacity reduction would significantly reduce travel options and connectivity for consumers. The airlines maintain that, along with violating national, European and international legislation, the decision is unnecessary, damaging and lacks proper substantiation, given the airline industry is already achieving significant results in relation to reducing CO₂ emissions and lowering noise levels.

For these reasons, KLM, KLM Cityhopper, Martinair, Transavia – all part of Air France-KLM Group – as well as Corendon, Delta Air Lines, easyJet and TUI are urging the courts to safeguard the future capacity of Schiphol Airport.

The KLM Group, which accounts for close to 60% of traffic at Schiphol, initiated this legal action in line with parent company Air France-KLM Group’s position on the matter. In addition, industry association BARIN has indicated its full support for this initiative. This initiative is also fully supported by industry associations Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) because the capacity reduction at Schiphol has major implications for the EU's single aviation market. In a further move, industry association IATA and a number of airlines will also be going to court to initiate proceedings against the Dutch government.

KLM endorses the need for additional measures, but at the same time it should be stressed that we find the mandatory reduction of passengers boarding locally highly detrimental and feel it should be a one-off, short-term solution. KLM finds it unacceptable that the airport’s users should have to structurally bear the burden of capacity problems at Schiphol.

Although KLM is against Schiphol’s measure in principle, KLM has cooperated with efforts to solve the problem, in the interests of passengers and safety at the airport. We have done so, among other things, by complying with Schiphol’s requests to scrap flights and voluntarily slow down ticket sales, spread flights across the day, extend connection times, etcetera. 

KLM feels it is important to give passengers clarity as swiftly as possible regarding the measures they can expect during the summer. In that light, it is better to take steps now, than to take ad hoc measures later. KLM will therefore comply with the request to reduce the number of passengers boarding locally, thereby helping to reduce the pressure on security at Schiphol during the peak period.

KLM will do its utmost to ensure that as many passengers as possible can enjoy holidays they have already booked. This can be achieved, among other things, by restricting the number of tickets made available to passengers boarding locally during the peak period. This measure would supplement KLM’s existing efforts, such as the spreading of flights. Based on the current information we have received from Schiphol, KLM will not have to cancel existing bookings on a major scale.

KLM holds Schiphol responsible for the financial impact of these measures.