By Alban Kacher
(Reuters) -Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport said on Monday it plans to freeze airline charges in 2026, scrapping a previously planned 5% increase following talks with airlines.
Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest airports, has already increased fees it charges to airlines by 41% this year as part of a three-year plan to fund new investment in the airport. The fee increases will also be used to reduce noise nuisance including additional charges for night flights.
“We understand that the 2025 charge increase has a significant impact on airlines,” CFO Robert Carsouw said in a statement. “At the same time, Schiphol is performing well financially and some airlines consider it too expensive. That’s why we’re discussing a freeze for 2026.”
The airport said it is in talks with airlines and will make a formal decision on the charges by the end of October. A voluntary contribution from Schiphol would offset the planned increase, made possible by cost control and efficiency measures, the airport added.
Last October, Dutch airline KLM’s CEO Marjan Rintel called the 41% rise in fees planned for this year “unreasonable and unwise”, adding that it would cause an increase in ticket prices and weaken Schiphol’s international competitiveness.
KLM is based at Schiphol, where it is facing additional cost pressures from a strike by ground crew demanding higher wages and better working conditions.
(Reporting by Alban Kacher; Editing by Susan Fenton)
