Balanced Approach Schiphol

Reactie

Vraag1

Finnair is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. Sustainable aviation means reduction of emissions, but also reduction of noise through continuous deployment of new and smarter technologies, new aircraft and modern engines.

The challenge of making aviation more sustainable and less impactful on its surroundings is to find the appropriate balance between reducing emissions, noise and local impact whilst at the same time remaining competitive and offering connectivity within Europe for people, families and businesses, as well as with the rest of the world. Finnair uses, whenever possible, continuous decent approach that reduces noise.

Finnair operates to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) double daily flights. Finnair operates A350 aircraft which is one of the quietest aircraft available. For the first 4weeks of the S23 season Finnair has multiple slot requests still pending (lost during 2019 Covid year due cancellations) and in case movements are reduced risk not being able to operate year around increases.

The Dutch government announced it intends to lower the cap on the number of flight movements per year from the current 500.000 to 440.000 in the coming years, where initially 540,000 movements were foreseen for the next years. This cut was announced without prior deliberation with the stakeholders directly concerned, who have meanwhile invested heavily over the past years and planned for the future.

Finnair is concerned that implementing restrictions to movements would pose a risk to EU’s connectivity, both external and internal. Future revenues will be lost and cannot be spent on sustainability and avoiding noise nuisance. This national measure is not proportionate to what the Dutch government aims to achieve in terms of noise reduction

Finnair would like to highlight that it is important to respect the requirements of the regulation on the Balanced Approach on noise related operating restrictions at EU airports (EU) 598/2014. The Balanced Approach is also a requirement in the EU-US Air Transport Agreement. Also, the general EU’s aviation market principles confirmed in Air Services Regulation (EU) 1008/2008 and Slot regulation (EU) 95/93 should be respected.