The Amsterdam City Council is demanding a further 20% reduction in flight movements at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, capping them at 400,000 per year.

The municipality has more than doubled its demand from the 9% reduction proposed in December 2023. The city also reiterated its stance against night flights, advocating for an overnight closure between 23:00 and 07:00, according to NL Times.

Alderman Hester van Buren emphasized the need for “a better balance between the quality of life for local residents and the economy” as part of an effort to reduce noise and pollution.

KLM, the national carrier of the Netherlands, has previously opposed the flight caps proposed by the Dutch government. The airline recently submitted its latest noise reduction measures, aiming to reduce noise pollution and environmental impact through fleet renewal.

KLM plans to reduce noise pollution by incorporating new technology on aircraft, managing the land around the airport effectively, optimizing operational procedures such as flight paths and landing procedures, and, as a last resort, considering flight restrictions or banning noisier aircraft.

The airline has already reduced its flight movements at Schiphol between midnight and 06:00.

Schiphol Airport stated that it had already proposed some of the restrictions suggested by the city, such as a ban on night flights and private jets, and that it supported these measures. However, the airport expressed concern about the extent of the measures, emphasizing the importance of Schiphol continuing to act as an air travel hub.

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