Dutch court blocks Schiphol Airport's flight cap over legal flaws
The Dutch Supreme Court has struck down the government's plan to limit flights at Schiphol Airport to 478,000 per year. Judges ruled the cap lacked proper justification and was poorly prepared, particularly in how it handled noise concerns. However, restrictions on nighttime flights between 23:00 and 07:00—capped at 27,000—remain unchanged as no party contested them.
The court found that the government had not carefully developed the legislation behind the flight cap. It also criticised the blanket restriction for failing to account for differences in noise levels between aircraft types. This oversight made the measure legally unsound.
Both airlines and environmental groups had challenged the decision, though for opposite reasons. Airlines argued the limits were too harsh, while climate activists pushed for even stricter controls. The court's ruling left open whether the proposed cap would have actually reduced noise as intended. Schiphol, Europe's fourth-busiest airport after London Heathrow, Istanbul, and Paris-Charles de Gaulle, now faces uncertainty. The government has acknowledged the verdict and confirmed it is already drafting new aviation laws to strengthen its legal position.
The overturned cap means Schiphol will operate without the planned annual flight limit for now. Nighttime restrictions stay in effect, but broader noise-reduction efforts must be reworked. The government's next steps will determine how future flight numbers and environmental policies are balanced.
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