The Dutch government will walk back some of the planned flight cuts at Amsterdam’s airport, following legal challenges from airlines, according to De Volkskrant newspaper.

Schiphol Airport will now be allowed to operate a maximum of 452,000 annual flights by November 2024, instead of the previous plan to limit capacity to 440,000, the Volkskrant report said, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.

“Aviation can bring the Netherlands a lot that’s good, as long as we pay attention to the negative effects for people that live near the airport,” said Transport Minister Mark Harbers on Friday (Sep 1) in a statement announcing the cap, which will go into effect in 2024 pending approval from the European Commission.

The cap of 452,500 flights per year, Harbers said, is 9.5 per cent below 2019 levels and lower than a previous proposal of 460,000.

The Dutch government, which is currently operating in a caretaker mode ahead of November elections, will scrap plans to ban night flights and private jets at the Amsterdam hub, the report said.

The new proposal pares back previous government plans that were aimed at minimising noise at the Amsterdam airport.

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The measures were challenged by airlines, including flag carrier KLM, that argued that it harms connectivity and the local economy.

The decision is “arbitrary, ill-thought out and undercuts procedures normally used”, said Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of industry group Airlines For Europe (A4E).

An appeals court in July gave the green light to the Dutch government to scale back the number of flights at the hub, although the airlines have appealed the verdict.

Dutch lawmakers are due to decide on Sep 12 about a list of issues that will be deemed “controversial” for the current parliament and left to the next government to decide.

Airline lobbying group International Air Transport Association on Thursday said the proposed cuts to flights at Schiphol remain before the courts and must not proceed under the leadership of the caretaker government.

“In a few months’ time, this government will not be accountable for the severe consequences that may follow from the Schiphol decision, particularly with respect to relations with the Netherlands’ trading partners, and lost jobs and prosperity at home,” Iata said in a statement.

The Netherlands is scheduled to hold elections on Nov 22 after the collapse of the ruling coalition.

Royal Schiphol Group had called on the government to provide clarity about the highly contested plans as the airport sought to proceed with its own package of measures aimed at minimising noise at the hub. The plan included a ban on night flights and private jets in the next two to three years.

According to Schiphol, these measures were necessary for the hub to become more sustainable for staff and the local environment.

At a press conference, outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte confirmed that the US Department of Transport had sent the Dutch government a letter airing concerns about the cap, which he said would be addressed. BLOOMBERG, REUTERS