Netherlands to Curb Noisy Night Flights at Schiphol by 2025
The Dutch government plans to reduce night flights and ban the loudest aircraft at Schiphol Airport by 2025 to mitigate noise pollution, following a court ruling demanding stricter measures.
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The Dutch government has announced plans to cut down on night flights and prohibit the loudest aircraft at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport by 2025 to address noise pollution concerns. Infrastructure Minister Mark Harbers outlined the initiative in a letter to parliament on Friday, following a local court’s directive in March for the government to take stronger actions against noise disturbances.
The upcoming regulations will see a reduction in night flights from 32,000 to 27,000 annually by 2025. Additionally, loud aircraft, including the Boeing 747-400, will be banned from operating between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. The aviation industry is being urged to transition to quieter aircraft as part of this noise reduction strategy.
Harbers also mentioned the possibility of a full or partial night closure of Schiphol starting in November 2026, an idea previously supported by the airport’s CEO. Furthermore, Schiphol has agreed to increase fees for noisy aircraft to incentivize airlines to use quieter planes.
Last year, the Dutch government and Schiphol aimed to cap flights at around 450,000 per year—10% below pre-pandemic levels—to curb noise. However, they faced resistance from the aviation industry and the European Union, which recommended exploring alternative noise reduction measures first.
Despite these challenges, Schiphol is projected to handle 483,000 flights this year. The new restrictions aim to balance operational capacity with the pressing need to reduce environmental noise pollution.
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