THE HAGUE, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch government announced on Friday a plan to reduce the number of flights at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, one of the world's busiest international hubs, in an effort to combat noise pollution affecting nearby communities.
Starting next year, the airport will be limited to 478,000 take-offs and landings annually -- a 4.4-percent decrease from the current cap of 500,000. Combined with the adoption of quieter aircraft, the plan aims to lower noise levels for local residents by 15 percent.
The decision has sparked criticism from KLM, the Netherlands' flagship airline. "KLM embraces the objectives for less noise pollution around Schiphol," the airline said in a press release. "That is why we are investing 7 billion euros (about 7.42 billion U.S. dollars) in quieter aircraft and have proposed significant measures under a cleaner, quieter, and more economical plan."
However, KLM described the government's decision as "incomprehensible," arguing that its investments and initiatives should have rendered a flight cap unnecessary. The airline also warned of potential international repercussions, cautioning that limiting landing rights at Schiphol for foreign carriers could provoke similar restrictions for Dutch airlines abroad.
In 2023, Schiphol Airport was ranked the world's third-busiest airport for international passenger traffic, serving 61.9 million passengers and connecting more than 300 destinations across five continents.
