Local residents: Schiphol could miss 100 destinations and still connect the Netherlands to the world

The Taskforce Neighborhood residents bases its analysis on CBS figures on trade with destinations and has declared all flights to destinations where the Netherlands has virtually no commercial relationship superfluous. In 2019, the last year of regular flights, 91 destinations with a total value of no more than 21 billion euros were served. The other 223 destinations represent 639 billion euros.

holiday resorts

Flights to the most popular seaside resorts in Southern Europe (even with very few groceries with them) and Suriname, Curaçao and Indonesia, with which the Netherlands has a special bond.

In addition, a number of destinations remain that are not significant in themselves, but offer enough transfer passengers to profitably fill intercontinental flights. According to the task force, the remaining 223 destinations will give you a “useful hub” that focuses on the needs of the internal market, not on switchers.

international trading country

The aviation industry supports Schiphol’s hub and connected model with more than 300 destinations. KLM flight chief Vincent van Hoof believes that the Netherlands, as an international trading nation, needs these connections for a flourishing economy.

A large airport makes it easy, and Dutch travelers also benefit: “Two thirds of our passengers are transfer passengers from abroad, almost a third are domestic passengers who board in the Netherlands. The good news is that the people who drive here, the Dutch, can use this network.

Increase holiday flights

KLM sees disadvantages mainly in reducing the number of targets. Van Hoof: “We think that if you travel less at Schiphol, passengers will be diverted to airports such as Brussels or Düsseldorf. It won’t solve the climate problem and it’s not good for the economy.”

Schiphol Airport said it was unable to respond to this article, but appeared on the radio broadcast. Sven at 1 Schiphol director Dick Benschop said last week that he does not want “growth for the sake of growth”. “Moderate growth may be necessary to maintain core and network quality,” says Benschop. It sees the spread of holiday flights to regional airports more than shrink.

Source: NOS

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