Contributor - Europe

Cathy Buyck

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (EHAM) intends to ban private jets and small business aircraft starting in 2025 as part of a wider strategy to introduce a&nbsp;system that focuses on the structural reduction of noise and carbon dioxide (COs)&nbsp;emissions in line with the Paris climate agreement. According to&nbsp;the Dutch airport operator, business aviation flights cause a “disproportionate amount of noise nuisance and CO2 emissions per passenger.” It maintains that business flights produce “around 20 times” more CO2 than&nbsp;commercial flights.
The airport’s revamped environmental strategy, announced on Tuesday, also&nbsp;includes a ban on night flights and nixes&nbsp;a project for an additional runway. However, police and ambulance flights would&nbsp;continue to be allowed.&nbsp;
“We have thought about growth but too little about its impact for too long,” said&nbsp;Royal Schiphol Group CEO&nbsp;Ruud Sondag. “We need to be sustainable for our employees, the local environment, and the world. I realize that our choices may have significant implications for the aviation industry, but they are necessary.”
It is unclear how a <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2023-04-05/airlines-win-legal-challenge-schiphol-flight-caps">court ruling</a> on Wednesday blocking the Dutch government’s imposition of a reduction in flights at the airport might specifically mean for the proposed ban on business aircraft. The ruling was made against the government rather than against the plans proposed by the management of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, but these could be reviewed in the wake of the judge’s decision.
Schiphol ranks as the Netherlands’&nbsp;busiest business aviation airport. With 16,456 movements, it accounted for half of the country’s private flights in 2022. Aviapartners and Jet Aviation provide FBO/ground handling services for&nbsp;general and business aviation aircraft at EHAM.&nbsp;
Schiphol&nbsp;said that about 30 to 50 percent of private jet flights are to holiday destinations like Ibiza, Spain; Cannes, France;&nbsp;and Innsbruck, Austria, and asserted&nbsp;that “sufficient scheduled services are available to the most popular destinations flown to by private jets.”
European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) data shows that Amsterdam-Paris Le Bourget ranks as the airport’s busiest route, followed by Amsterdam to/from the UK's London Luton, Biggin Hill, and Farnborough. Business aircraft operators will now have to start considering alternatives such as Rotterdam The Hague Airport (EHRD), 46 miles to the southwest of the center of Amsterdam, and Lelystad Airport (EHLE), which is 34 miles to the east. Schiphol is just 14 miles from the city center.
In a statement to&nbsp;AIN, EBAA noted that “banning business aviation at Schiphol can lead to a significant loss of income for the Dutch economy, while the CO2 savings achieved by banning business aviation is minimal. This is less than half a percent of emissions from all departing international flights, according to research by CE Delft for Greenpeace.”
The Brussels-based trade body, which is increasingly challenging <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2023-04-04/ebaa-calls-greenpeace-report-distortion-facts">criticism of business aviation</a> on environmental grounds,&nbsp;also remarked that “flights in our sector almost never cause noise nuisance because they are usually small aircraft.”

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Plans To Ban Business Aircraft in 2025

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is proposing a ban on business aircraft starting in 2025 as part of a wider strategy to reduce noise and CO2 emissions.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Robert Sancetta

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

If a pilot has to ask, they probably should stay grounded for now

AINsight: Could You Be Too Sick to Fly?

AmyWilder

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Coalition questions Ligado’s device availability claims 

NBAA, Others Push FCC To Probe Ligado Compliance Claims

Matt Thurber

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

Participants' information is no longer subject to Freedom of Information Act requests

FAA Updates ADS-B Privacy ICAO Address Program

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

But new color vision testing will still go into effect January 1

FAA Delays Aeromed Certification Policy Change

Curt Epstein

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Enhanced vigilance will last until mid-January

Mexico’s AFAC Ramps Up Ramp Inspections

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

More In Regulations and Government

AINsight: Could You Be Too Sick to Fly?

If a pilot has to ask, they probably should stay grounded for now

NBAA, Others Push FCC To Probe Ligado Compliance Claims

Coalition questions Ligado’s device availability claims

FAA Updates ADS-B Privacy ICAO Address Program

Participants' information is no longer subject to Freedom of Information Act requests

FAA Delays Aeromed Certification Policy Change

But new color vision testing will still go into effect January 1

Mexico’s AFAC Ramps Up Ramp Inspections

Enhanced vigilance will last until mid-January

Graves Set To Continue as House Transportation Chair

A pilot, Graves is active in general aviation

Former Bizjet Escrow Exec Sentenced in Drug Scheme

Judge gives sentence of 16 years in federal prison

NBAA: Be Prepared for Ownership Reporting Requirements

Legal experts caution that further court action could be ahead

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN