The American airline JetBlue Airways announced on Tuesday that it had asked the American Department of Transport to prohibit KLM planes from the Air France – KLM group from taking off from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. This follows planned restrictions at Schiphol Airport. For JetBlue they violate the open skies agreement between the United States and the European Union.
The Dutch government announced last month that it would go ahead with plans to cap the number of flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport next year to reduce noise. It’s a move fiercely opposed by national airline KLM and airline industry groups.
Flights will be capped at 452,500 per year, almost 10% below 2019 levels and lower than a previous proposal of 460,000.
In its press release, the airline JetBlue indicated:
If the Dutch government is allowed to effectively expel newcomer JetBlue from Amsterdam without facing substantial and proportional countermeasures from the ministry, other governments may decide to follow suit.
JetBlue
In September JetBlue filed a complaint against the Netherlands and the European Union with the US government over the matter.
KLM announced on Tuesday that it had warned the Dutch government against possible reprisals. KLM indicated:
This is very detrimental for KLM and endangers the network that connects the Netherlands to the rest of the world.
KLM
A Dutch government spokesperson said on Tuesday that Schiphol’s decision would have no impact on the number of available air traffic rights, “as exchanged between states under the EU-State Air Treaty -Unis Open Skies”, adding that on November 2, airlines will be informed of the number of slots they will have to reduce for summer 2024.
It may also become clear to some airlines that they will not receive slots for the 2024 summer season. This will be an important moment for many airlines and countries, including JetBlue.
Dutch government
The Air France – KLM group risks facing a reduction in its traffic rights to the USA in retaliation in the coming months.
2023-10-25 07:59:30
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