Schiphol Airport Announces 41% Fee Hike to Address Noise and Improve Infrastructure

Amsterdam‘s Schiphol Airport is set to increase its airline fees by 41% next year, as announced by the Royal Schiphol Group on its official website. This significant rise in charges is primarily aimed at penalizing airlines operating excessively noisy aircraft and funding infrastructure improvements at the airport. Operators of night flights will also face higher fees.

In addition to the upcoming fee hike, Schiphol Airport has outlined a further 6% increase scheduled for 2026, followed by a 7.5% reduction in 2027. Nevertheless, this adjustment means that, on average, airlines will pay approximately €15 more per passenger in 2027 compared to 2024.

The rationale behind this fee increase includes rising inflation and elevated interest rates over the past three years, coupled with the need to recover from pandemic-related financial losses. The airport has committed to utilizing these additional funds to enhance services for both airlines and passengers while also improving working conditions for its employees.

To facilitate these upgrades, Schiphol Airport anticipates needing an investment of about €6 billion over the next five years, focusing on quality enhancements and ongoing maintenance. To help alleviate the financial burden on airlines, the airport has pledged to contribute €100 million towards this investment.

Robert Carsouw, CFO of the Royal Schiphol Group, stated that this substantial increase in charges is essential for advancing quality and sustainability at the airport. He emphasized that the fees would help improve services for airlines and passengers and ensure decent working conditions for staff. Furthermore, the new fees are intended to make it significantly more expensive to operate noisier aircraft and conduct night flights, thereby reducing disturbances for nearby residents.

The fee hike has sparked criticism, particularly from KLM, the Netherlands’ national carrier. CEO Marjan Rintel expressed concerns that Schiphol is transferring the financial repercussions of budget overruns and setbacks onto travelers. He argued that such a steep increase in airport charges would inevitably lead to higher ticket prices and is an unreasonable approach. Rintel warned that this could undermine Schiphol’s competitive position as an international hub, potentially threatening the Netherlands’ connectivity and economic stability.