When airlines join forces, it’s never good news normally. In this case, KLM Group, Delta Air Lines, Corendon, easyJet and TUI are joining forces to take summary proceedings against the Dutch government.
Fewer movements make airlines unhappy – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
The airlines are challenging the government’s decision to significantly cut flight movements at Schiphol. This will 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).
That represents a cut of 60,000 movements at the airport over two years, at a time when airlines are finally hoping to recover.
The airlines find it “incomprehensible”, whilst they are trying their own strategies to decarbonise and reduce emissions, whilst the Dutch government’s justification is based on operational restrictions at the airport.
The move by the Dutch government to restrict the available slots at Schiphol according to the airlines would 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.
As such 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 has drummed up support for this (even as they’re the majority customer at the airport. In addition, the Industry associations BARIN, Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) have thrown their weight behind this
In a further move, the industry association IATA and a number of airlines will also be going to court to initiate proceedings against the Dutch government.
In Quotes
Marjan Rintel, CEO KLM
We are embracing the targets set for reducing noise levels and CO2 emissions, investing billions in fleet renewal and SAF procurement that will ultimately supersede these targets while maintaining our network that serves 170 destinations worldwide. This is good news for the millions of people who fly from the Netherlands with KLM every year whether for business or leisure and for the cargo industry. As the government appears not to hear our call, unfortunately we find ourselves compelled to take legal action.
Delta is committed to ambitious sustainability targets and wants to work collaboratively to meet these goals. We firmly believe that it is possible and, indeed, necessary to properly balance sustainability priorities with economic and wider societal interests. We strongly object to capacity reductions at Schiphol Airport and remain actively focused on investing in our fleet renewal and modernization program as the most effective way forward to mitigate noise and environmental concerns.
The proposed measures will negatively limit Dutch travelers’ options. That is why TUI wholeheartedly supports this action. The measures are contrary to (European) regulations and government policies that have been in place for years and do not reward the efforts that have been and are being made by airlines to reduce noise and emissions.
Emphatic focus on rapid fleet renewal will reduce noise levels and emissions in the short term far more effectively than imposing limits on capacity, which will only serve to put pressure on network connections and holiday flights, driving passengers across the border.
Transavia is forced to join the summary proceedings against reducing capacity at Schiphol Airport to 460,000 flight movements. As a company, we have made an important choice for the coming years with a billion-dollar investment in a cleaner, more fuel-efficient and quieter fleet, so that we can keep beautiful travel destinations accessible to our passengers and offer them a good trip. Reducing the number of flights is not the solution and will not have the desired effect for local residents and climate.
By choosing to pursue an arbitrary flight cap the Dutch government totally disregards both the efforts made by the industry to decarbonise as well as the socio-economic benefits of aviation, significantly reducing connectivity. easyJet is taking important steps towards the decarbonisation of our operations, having recently published our roadmap to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, which includes a combination of operational efficiencies, fleet renewal, and other elements like airspace modernisation.
Commercial versus Environmental, Blunt Instruments versus Targeted measures.
Airlines are gearing up for a fight as they wish to protect their commercial concerns, be it the precious slots they have and what might need to be relinquished, versus the progress (or lack thereafter) they are making to meet the environmental agendas of governments.
Yet, there seems to be the taking of a sledgehammer to crack a walnut, with a blanket cut in capacity.
Again – Air-Rail links could help in removing short-distance services to both Belgium, France and Germany (all within a High-Speed Rail link or two away), as could demand management on these short-haul flows.
Ultilmarty this is going to boil down to a court battle, with Schiphol arguing about the environmental benefits of its task and the airline fighting for what they’re doing and how their work will mitigate the flight cap.
They’ll also have to contend with the airport, which believes a cut from 500,000 movements a year to 460,000 movements is a required step, in order to get an Airport Traffic Decree over the line.
This has the makings of being very messy, very fast.
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JetBlue has also asked the US DOT to intervene under the open skies treaty, as they were rejected after applying for both Aeroflot and Flybe’s slots, and that would further suppress competition at AMS, which is already lacking due to the Delta/KLM JV.
B6 has now requested DL/KLM slots on the grounds of ensuring competition, but with further slot reductions on the horizon DL/KLM are just going to fight that much harder, and between the Spirit takeover bid and the Northeast Alliance, JetBlue isn’t exactly the DOT’s favourite airline right now, so they may elect to just not take up the matter.