Dutch air cargo group hits out at Schiphol price increases
07 / 11 / 2024
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Air Cargo Netherlands has warned that Schiphol Airport’s plans to increase rates next year will disproportionally impact freighter airlines.
The Dutch airport last week announced that it would increase airline charges by 37% over the coming three years in response to high inflation and increased interest rates.
The charges will increase by 41% next year, 5% in 2026 and then decrease by 7.5% in 2027, it said.
However, the charges will favour those airlines that operate quieter aircraft. The charges for quieter aircraft are going to be less expensive, while older, noisier planes are going to cost airlines more. Night flights will also be subjected to additional charges.
Air Cargo Netherlands warned this would have the largest impact on cargo aircraft, which tend to be older models than their passenger equivalents and are also more likely to fly at night.
“We believe that differentiation based on noise is justified because it has proven to be a very effective instrument, but the increase is too large and, above all, too fast. Freight aircraft are currently often older and therefore noisier aircraft.
“Many airlines are currently renewing their fleet (a transition from the Boeing 747-400F to the Airbus A350F or the Boeing 777F) and orders have often already been placed. Due to supply chain problems at the manufacturers, many of these aircraft are only delivered later than expected.”
Air Cargo Netherlands pointed out that more than 95% of airfreight in the Netherlands passes through Schiphol Airport and, in contrast to surrounding countries, there is no fully-fledged alternative for relocating this flow within the Netherlands.
“Schiphol is also the only Dutch airport that is open at night,” the trade association said. “The night is essential for a number of airlines with cargo planes and for express carriers to be able to deliver their goods and services on time.”
The association added that freighter operators at the airport also face having the number of slots allocated to them cut as part of a wider reduction.
“Various studies and recommendations show that there is a risk that Schiphol will lose its position as an important airfreight hub. This harms the interests of companies based in the Netherlands with an international value chain,” Air Cargo Netherlands said.
“With the ever-increasing geopolitical unrest, it is also important in the context of our country’s strategic autonomy that cargo planes ‘continue to feel welcome’ in our country. We seem to have quickly forgotten that cargo planes were essential for many important flows of goods during the corona crisis.”
