Lelystad Airport opens a year later due to the corona crisis. Initially, the airport, which mainly has to take over holiday flights from overcrowded Schiphol, would open its doors before the end of this year, but that turns out not to be feasible, Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen (Aviation) said on Tuesday.
The aim is now to open in November 2021, Van Nieuwenhuizen writes to the House of Representatives.
“The corona crisis has major consequences for the aviation sector. Measures have been taken worldwide and the number of aircraft movements has decreased significantly,” said the minister.
The airlines flying from Schiphol are now mainly concerned with survival.
For example, 33,000 people work in the Netherlands at KLM. The outbreak of the corona virus forced the aviation organization to cut 80 to 90 percent of the flights. An appeal has now been made to the cabinet’s emergency package.
Moreover, writes Van Nieuwenhuizen, there is now no longer any pressure at Schiphol because the aircraft have to remain on the ground.
Third time that Van Nieuwenhuizen has to postpone opening
It is the third time that Van Nieuwenhuizen has to postpone the opening of Lelystad Airport, which would actually be operational in April 2018.
Initially, there were problems with noise pollution and European rules prevented a rapid opening, as a result of which the planned opening of April 2019 was canceled. Subsequently, the government’s nitrogen policy (PAS) was rejected by the Council of State, which again delayed the project.
Van Nieuwenhuizen expects the aviation sector to recover quickly. “The cabinet is making every effort to limit the economic downturn as much as possible and to create optimal preconditions for a rapid economic recovery after the corona crisis.”
Therefore, work will continue in the coming months on the preparations and the necessary nature permits that are now required due to the loss of the PAS for the opening for next year.
– .
