The ‘local rule’ reissuing 25% of unused slots to cargo flights at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has been approved by minister of infrastructure and water management, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen.
Cargo flights came under pressure in the summer of 2017 when Schiphol reached the maximum of 500,000 flight movements.
Stricter regulations made it harder for cargo flights to retain historic slot rights, and the number of cargo flights fell as airlines looked abroad.
Machiel van der Kuijl, general manager of evofenedex says: “Cargo flights are a crucial component for the export opportunities of Dutch companies active in the high tech, pharmaceutical and flower sectors. In addition, it is an important pillar under the business climate for foreign companies and the import of their goods. The approved scheme shows that our concerns are taken seriously and the added value of cargo flights for the Dutch economy is endorsed.”
Maarten van As, managing director of Air Cargo Netherlands says: “This local rule is not the solution for the shortage of slots for cargo aircraft at Schiphol, among others. The demand is still greater than the supply. But the minister and Airport Coordination Netherlands are sending a positive signal to the airfreight sector that requires clarity.”
Jan Boeve, director of TLN adds: “For road hauliers who load the air cargo at Schiphol in the truck and transport it further into Europe. But also for Dutch freight forwarders united in FENEX, Schiphol is very important as a hub for international air freight shipments.”
The local rule will come into force on 31 August 2019 and will be evaluated after one year.
