Airline body slams move to raise charges 33% at Dutch hub, writes Graham Dunn
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol’s operator has been cleared to raise charges at the airport by 33% over three years after the Dutch consumer regulator rejected airline complaints over the new fees.
Schiphol introduced the new charges in April this year, increasing fees 41% this year, by 5% the following April, before a planned cut in fees from April 2027. Schiphol said the increase is required to enable “necessary investments and further improve the quality of the airport”.
The higher fees prompted 10 airlines and three industry organisations to file complaints with the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).
However, in early June the regulator ruled the increase in Schiphol’s charges was not unreasonable. While acknowledging the rise in charges is “significant”, ACM judged this in part reflected recovery of pandemic losses and that this was in line with the principles of the Dutch Aviation Act.
Schiphol’s CFO Robert Carsouw said: “We appreciate the thorough review carried out by ACM and welcome confirmation that the new charges are reasonable. We will use the scope this provides to improve the airport in all areas.
“We are investing in improving the quality of service to passengers and airlines, sustainability, good working conditions for everyone working at Schiphol and a good balance with our environment.”
Rafael Schvartzman, Regional Vice President for Europe at global airline body the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a vocal critic of the higher charges, said: “Schiphol is set to double its charges in just eight years, while its services decline, and its capital spending fails to bring in much-needed improvements.
“Along with the uncertainty over the airport’s future capacity, this can only further damage the viability of Schiphol as a hub airport and the wider economy of the Netherlands.”
While the ruling means the new charges implemented in April are confirmed, unhappy parties can still file an appeal with the Dutch Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal.
ACM also backed Schiphol’s new level of differentiated charges, which applies higher fees for noisier aircraft and night-time flights. The latter comes amid controversial Dutch Government moves to reduce capacity at the airport to help tackle noise pollution. ACM though did rule that Schiphol could not on its own ban certain noisier aircraft from operating at the airport and would have to wait for the law to be amended before it did so.
