Summary
- KLM aims to reduce noise at Schiphol Airport without impacting economy or global connections.
- The airline’s proposed noise reduction plan focuses on fleet renewal and operational procedures.
- KLM believes flight cuts are unnecessary and its measures exceed noise reduction targets.
Dutch flag carrier KLM has submitted its latest response to the Dutch government’s proposed noise reduction measures at Schiphol Airport. The airline aims to accomplish noise reduction without having a major impact on the economy or Amsterdam’s global connectivity.
KLM’s new noise reduction response
In its latest response to government noise reduction proposals at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), KLM said its plan to tackle noise pollution will focus on fleet renewal, implementing new operational procedures and utilizing its quieter aircraft during the night. It has long been opposed to flight caps, something Schiphol has been looking to implement, on the grounds that it would harm the national economy and diminish the country’s connections to the wider world.
Photo: Amsterdam Schiphol
Flight reductions also go against the Balanced Approach doctrine, which says operational restrictions should be considered only as a last resort if other measures fail. KLM believes that its own proposed noise reduction measures will be enough to meet targets without the need for any flight cuts. Barry ter Voert, CXO & EVP Business Development, commented,
“We believe this is the best way to develop a balanced and effective package of measures to reduce noise impact, while ensuring that we maintain the excellent international connections that are so crucial for the Netherlands, businesses and people in general.”
In November, Schiphol dropped its plans to impose a flight cap for this summer following intense lobbying from the industry, led, of course, by the airport’s dominant carrier, KLM. In a series of new proposed measures unveiled last month, Dutch infrastructure minister Mark Harbers proposed 460,000 and 470,000 take-offs and landings a year, which is more than expected, although night flights would be reduced from 32,000 to 27,000. Additionally, the loudest-tier aircraft, which includes the Boeing 747, would be banned from operating at night, which would prove a particular blow to cargo airlines that tend to fly the quadjet on overnight segments.
Areas of improvement
While authorities have implemented some of the principles laid out in KLM’s June 2023 “Cleaner, Quieter, More Efficient” plan, the airline hopes to bridge some key differences. Based on calculations by the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), KLM claims these measures go further than necessary and will do more economic harm.
Related
Too Many Night Flights: What Is The Dutch Government Doing To Reduce Aircraft Noise?
The nation’s regulatory bodies have several proposals in the works.
According to the airline, NLR calculations show that noise reduction targets for 2025 can be met without making any flight cuts. Additionally, KLM says that government measures are not feasible within the timeframe provided and are not cost-effective for airlines to follow.
Photo: KLM
The International Air Transportation Association’s (IATA) ‘Balanced Approach’ focuses on the following four pillars (in order of importance):
- Reduction at source: Reducing noise emissions by incorporating new technology on aircraft.
- Land use: Effecting planning and management of land around airports, such as zoning laws, building insulation and prioritizing industrial and commercial lands around airports to minimize residential disturbance.
- Operational procedures: Optimizing airline and airport operating procedures, such as flight paths and takeoff and landing procedures.
- Operational limits: Considered as a last resort, this entails restricting the number of flights or banning noisier aircraft.
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