Eindhoven Airport must continue to grow over the coming five years, with a target of 43,000 annual flights by 2020, junior transport minister Wilma Mansveld told the ED.
Local communities wanted growth to be spread out over several years. Mansveld says this would have major consequences for Schiphol and Lelystad airports and Eindhoven must absorb part of the national growth.
Unveiling a proposal to the Tweede Kamer (lower house of parliament) today, Mansveld suggested reducing the number of late flights from eight to four. The minister’s plans also include changing the latest incoming flight time to 23:30, half an hour earlier than suggested by civil aviation advisors the Alderstafel.
While local residents and municipalities called for the earliest flights to start from 08:00, Mansveld wants to keep the current time of 07:00.
Former minister Hans Alders put forward his recommendations for Eindhoven Airport’s growth earlier this year, supported by the city council, the province, and the airport itself. However, they faced opposition from local residents and twelve regional municipalities due to noise complaints.
Source: Studio040
Translation: Nicola Wood (LinkedIn)
