Night flights crucial for affordability of flying
Transavia has been the Dutch holiday airline for almost sixty years, important for many in the Netherlands to travel to beautiful destinations. In order to remain accessible in the future and to offer affordable tickets, it is crucial that we can continue to operate night flights in addition to day flights. In this way, we maintain the affordable range of destinations from the Netherlands and contribute to the Dutch economy, the much-desired holidays and family visits.
Today, the government submitted an adjusted package of measures for the procedure for reducing noise pollution around Schiphol to the European Commission in Brussels. The outcome of this is a reduction to a bandwidth of 475,000 to 485,000 flights and a reduction in the night of 5,000 flights per year. In addition, there are measures such as using as many quieter aircraft as possible at night.
It is important that the balanced approach process is carefully followed. It is positive that a number of measures from the broadly supported sector plan cleaner, quieter, more economical have been adopted. The strong reduction in night flights is and remains a major concern for Transavia's current offering. Especially because with our action plan we more than meet the government's noise reduction targets. A night closure at Schiphol is not necessary for this.
Marcel de Nooijer, CEO Transavia: 'Transavia also aims to reduce the nuisance around Schiphol, and we take our responsibility in this. In the coming years, we will invest billions in quieter aircraft and other initiatives. As a result, the noise will continue to decrease in the coming years. The reduction in noise nuisance at night, in combination with other measures in the announced package, will already far exceed the intended target of 15% at night and possibly reduce it by more than 30%. Even fewer night flights will ensure that ticket prices will become more expensive and that our customers will have to go to airports in Germany and Belgium. This creates an extra major challenge on our substantial investment agenda to reduce the nuisance experience through fleet renewal.'
Transavia is awaiting the European Commission's assessment.
This press release was translated using automated tools. Please refer to the original Dutch version for the most accurate information.