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.

(*) The joint Air France KLM Traffic results February are available in the download box of this message.

Almost all over Europe, air traffic has been suspended for five days. All airlines are therefore faced with a backlog, while new passengers are reporting for flights that are currently being operated to schedule.

KLM has swiftly restored its network. As promised, this was achieved within 48 hours, says KLM President & CEO Peter Hartman. “We are doing whatever we can. Together with our partners Delta Airlines and Kenya Airways we are working flat-out to get our passengers and cargo to their destinations as quickly as possible. I am proud of the KLM family, because we have pulled together and achieved this in a very short space of time,” said Mr. Hartman.

Delta Airlines will take on three KLM flights for the coming period (New York JFK and Atlanta ATL), freeing up capacity for KLM. Our partner Kenya Airways will deploy a larger aircraft type on the Nairobi-Amsterdam route. Extra capacity will also be deployed on the routes to Curacao, Paramaribo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai, Osaka, Lima, Sao Paulo, San Francisco and Cairo.