If it were up to KLM CEO Marjan Rintel, new Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management Barry Madlener would leave the Schiphol shrinkage file behind. “To work together for the future of aviation,” she says on the radio show Sven Reference 1.

Former Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management Mark Harbers announced in the summer of 2022 that the number of flights to and from Schiphol should be reduced. In particular, the noise pollution suffered by local residents should be significantly reduced.

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Sheffield contraction

While the previous government was convinced that this goal could be achieved by reducing flight movements, KLM CEO Marjan Rintel has a very different view. She hopes that the maximum number of flight movements around the airport will remain at least 500,000. “I expect that we will follow the law and that the law will remain in place. Whether there is a new government or not.”

The law Rentl refers to describes the “balanced approach.” “It says that contraction is a last resort and that you have to do everything else first.” “I expect Madler and the ministry to simply follow the balanced approach.”

The future of aviation

In other words: finding an alternative to noise pollution, without shrinkage. “We have shown that there are other ways. And it would also be very good to work together on the future of aviation.

So Rentl hopes that Madeleine will put the Schiphol recession behind him. “We simply have a basis that you can say is reliable and stable. That we can invest in.” For example, investments in alternative fuels and technology. “If that’s not on the table, we have room to talk about it with each other.”

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By: Vic Ten Wold