Airlines face fines over noisy Schiphol night flights

The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) has warned three airlines for using noisy aircraft during night hours at Schiphol Airport.

Cargo carrier DHL, Israeli airline El Al, and Turkish Airlines have now received final warnings in the form of an order subject to a penalty.

If the carriers breach the rules again, they will face a fine of €17,000 per violation, which can rise to €170,000 for repeated infractions.

Restricted aircraft types

To reduce sleep disruption for people living near Schiphol, certain aircraft models are banned from landing or departing during night hours.

The restrictions target older freight and passenger planes, including the Boeing 737-800, 737-900, and 747-400, along with Airbus A320, A321, and A330-200 models.

Eleven airlines received an initial warning from the regulator. Eight of them complied by switching to quieter aircraft for their night operations.

Calls for full night closure

The aircraft restrictions apply to night flights operating between 23:00 and 07:00.

Several local municipalities argue the current measures do not go far enough. Earlier this year, councils including Amsterdam, Aalsmeer, Beverwijk, and Heiloo called on the national government to introduce a total ban on night flights at the airport.

Source: NH Nieuws