Top European airport to scrap thousands of flights this year
ONE of the busiest airports in Europe is scrapping thousands of flights this year.
Amsterdam Schipol Airport confirmed that they are limiting the number of international flights that operate from the airport.
The Dutch government is reducing its annual 500,000 flights to 460,000 flights.
The reductions will be enforced from November, affecting the winter 2023 schedule, as well as the summer 2024 schedule.
The decision, first announced last year, was made due to a number of measures being introduced to cut carbon emissions as well as reducing noise levels.
The Dutch transport ministry said in a statement: “The maximum CO2 emissions set for each airport will apply for several years, so that an exceedance in one year can be compensated in subsequent years.
“The policy will help the country meet its carbon goal.
“Further details remain to be decided and the government promises that discussions will include all parties.”
However, airlines have slammed the move, with a statement issued by KLM Group, easyJet, TUI, Delta and Corendon.
Delta said they “strongly objected” to the capacity reductions.
Amsterdam Airport is one of the busiest in Europe, just behind London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Brits often travel via Amsterdam for cheaper connecting flights in Europe, or to use it as a connection for long-haul journeys.
It’s not just Schipol Airport being forced to scrap flights.
German airline Lufthansa confirmed that they had to “adjust its summer flight schedule,” with more than 34,000 flights scrapped this summer.
They cited staff shortages that are currently affecting the aviation industry.
In the UK, Wizz Air confirmed that all of their flights from Cardiff Airport were being scrapped after they pulled out of their Welsh base.