AMSTERDAM- The Airlines lacking historical rights at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), including newcomer JetBlue (B6) Airways, will not be assigned slots for the summer of 2024, according to slot coordinator ACNL, as revealed on Thursday.
For airlines holding historical rights, there will be a 3.1% reduction in allocated slots, confirmed by ACNL Director Hugo Thomassen to Reuters, in alignment with the Dutch government’s contested efforts to limit air traffic to and from the airport to mitigate noise.
No Slots for JetBlue at Amsterdam Schiphol
JetBlue, a U.S. carrier, filed a complaint in September against the Netherlands and the European Union with the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the plans to restrict traffic at Schiphol, citing violations of the U.S.-EU Air Transport Agreement.
In the previous month, JetBlue urged the same agency to bar KLM from operating at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport in response to these measures.
In response to the situation, JetBlue stated, “We believe the U.S. and Dutch Governments have an obligation under our historic Open Skies Agreement to ensure that JetBlue is granted continued access at Amsterdam’s only viable airport.”
Dutch Government Downsizing at AMS
The Dutch government has set a target to reduce the number of flights at Schiphol, a major European air transport hub, to 452,500 per year. This figure is nearly 10% lower than the 2019 levels and slightly below the previous proposal of 460,000.
The decision has faced strong opposition from the national carrier KLM and various industry associations.
KLM expressed disappointment with the allocated slots for the upcoming summer season, citing a reduction of approximately 17 daily flights. Spokesperson Gerrie Brand conveyed this sentiment.
JetBlue, which initiated flights to Schiphol from New York (JFK) and Boston (BOS) this year, has emphasized its commitment to continue advocating for access to landing slots at Schiphol.
This effort is aimed at ensuring the airline’s continued presence in Amsterdam in the future.
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