Information concerning reduction movements Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)  

Preliminary phase 

Summary announcement Dutch government 24 June 2022 

  • On 24 June 2022, the Dutch cabinet presented its future plans for Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). Please find the letter and all attachments (in Dutch) here. Please find a courtesy translation in English here.  
  • To find a new balance between the importance of an international airport for the Netherlands and the quality of the living environment, specifically for local residents, the cabinet has decided that the maximum number of commercial aircraft movements allowed to and from Schiphol will have to be reduced to 440,000 on an annual basis.  
  • The cabinet aimed for effectiveness as of start IATA Northern Winter season 2023/2024 (W23).  
  • According EU Law a Balanced Approach process for operational reduction measures is followed by the Member State. All information and supporting documents are available at https://www.luchtvaartindetoekomst.nl/onderwerpen/samenwerking/ba/english-version. 

Roles of  

  • Government 

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, within the framework of applicable European regulations, incorporate the environmental standard in national laws and regulations. 

  • Airport managing body

The airport managing body of AMS, Royal Schiphol Group (RSG), sets the available capacity in terms of the number of slots available based on the environmental standard.  

  • ACNL as slot coordinator   

ACNL as an independent slot coordinator is not involved in the decision making process of the government nor in determining available capacity at an airport. ACNL allocates slots after an airport published its available capacity by means of the capacity declaration twice a year.   

 

Appeal 

In the first half of 2023, summary proceedings and an appeal were initiated. Based on the appeal ruling of 7 July 2023, the government adopted the Experimental Decree. Subsequently, airlines filed cassation appeals. It is unknown when this will lead to a ruling. Possible consequences from the cassation ruling will require the airport managing body to adjust the available number of slots. Based on this, ACNL will then allocate slots. 

Implementation reduction effective as of IATA Northern Summer 2024 (S24) – status until 14 November 2023

(see ‘Update of 14 November 2023’ further below this page)

Publication Experimental Decree in Dutch Government Gazette of 11 September 2023 

  • In the Government Gazette of 11 September 2023 the Experimental Decree is published, the temporary regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management concerning the establishment of substitute limit values for noise impact at enforcement points and rules for strictly preferential runway use at Schiphol Airport (Temporary Regulation Strictly Preferential Runway Use Schiphol). This publication forms the basis for reducing the number of commercial flight movements to a maximum of 460,000 for the operational year 2024 and an additional 2.5% noise impact for other traffic, resulting in a limit of approximately 17,000 General Aviation flight movements. Available: https://www.luchtvaartindetoekomst.nl/documenten/publicaties/2023/09/11/publicatie-staatscourant-experimenteerregeling  

Publication Capacity Declaration AMS S24 

  • The Capacity Declaration S24, which takes into account the reduction based on the Experimental Decree, was issued by AMS on 28 September 2023. The corresponding airport press release can be found here and the Capacity Declaration S24 here. 

ACNL Policy Rule ‘Slot allocation in case of exceedance of historic rights’ 

  • Based on the available capacity in the capacity declaration Should, the number of slots with historic rights exceeds the available capacity declared by the airport (in terms of seasonal capacity), as the coordinator cannot allocate more slots than have been made available to him. ACNL has elaborated the procedure in a Policy Rule based on proportional reduction which is available here. 
  • An accompanying ‘Working Procedure for slot allocation S24 exceeding historical rights’ applies and is available here. 
  • Simultaneously with the issuance of the SAL, each airline is informed of its reduction task. 

Update 14 November 2023

  • Until further notice, the earlier announced Experimental Decree for reduction maximum number of commercial movements, has been suspended by the Dutch Government. An amending regulation for this will be published shortly. On 14 November 2023 the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management informed the House of Representatives by this letter (in Dutch).
  • Airlines will be notified about an updated reduction task shortly after Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has amended the capacity for S24. The amendment to the capacity declaration will be consulted in the Coordination Committee Netherland (CCN).

Update 24 May 2024

  • Following earlier presented measures to the European Commission and outcomes of court rulings, on 24 May 2024 the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management informed the House of Representatives about proposals concerning adjusted measures relating to noise reduction including reduction of maximum number of commercial movements by this letter (in Dutch) . A courtesy translation into English is available here. An English summary about the Balanced Approach Procedure for Schiphol is available here.
  • Public internet consultation is available here until 21 June 2024.

Update 4 September 2024

  • The Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management notified additional measures to the European Commission following an additional consultation in May-June 2024.
  • Notification includes a range for a movement cap on annual basis and for the night.
  • The Ministry is currently in exchange with the EC before further proceedings.

Next steps 

More information about next steps, is available at (most parts in Dutch): https://www.luchtvaartindetoekomst.nl/onderwerpen/besluit-minder-vluchten-schiphol 

ACNL will keep this page updated as courtesy information for interested parties.   

Disclaimer: This page is meant as courtesy information and is compiled with utmost care. No rights can be derived. ACNL cannot be held responsible in case of incorrect information.   

 

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