JetBlue Flights Will No Longer Be Limited at Amsterdam

The situation at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, a major European hub, continues to evolve.

Just under two weeks after Airport Coordination Netherlands (ACNL) announced that JetBlue would be among the airlines denied takeoff and landing rights for summer 2024, the Dutch government has decided to withdraw its plan to limit flights at Schiphol next summer.

In a letter to the Dutch parliament on Tuesday, Infrastructure Minister Mark Harbers stated that the plan is now on hold 'until further notice.'

The letter emphasized that the cabinet remains committed to restoring the balance between Schiphol and its surrounding environment, as reported by Reuters.

In August, JetBlue introduced its inaugural routes to the Netherlands with direct flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), followed by service from Boston Logan International Airport in September. Prior to this, traditional carriers like Delta, KLM, and Air France had primarily dominated these routes.

Airlines were notified of ACNL’s new limitations on November 2, marking the latest twist in the ongoing debate surrounding the Dutch government’s persistent efforts to reduce traffic, emissions, and noise at Schiphol.

However, the proposed summer removal of JetBlue from Schiphol didn’t inspire confidence for international travelers eager to utilize the newly launched flights between the East Coast and Amsterdam during the peak travel season.

JetBlue and the U.S. government challenged the ruling

Unsurprisingly, JetBlue opposed ACNL’s limitations, and according to the U.S. government, their objections were justified. In September, the airline submitted a complaint to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) against the Netherlands and the European Union regarding the Dutch government's intended cuts at Schiphol, which have drawn significant media scrutiny over the past year, asserting they breach the U.S.–EU Air Transport Agreement. Additionally, in late October, it filed another request urging the DOT to prohibit KLM, the Netherlands' flag carrier, from JFK if the proposed restrictions were enacted, as reported by Reuters and other news sources.

On November 3, the DOT released an order stating that the Dutch government “has imposed an unjustifiable and unreasonable restriction on an air carrier’s access to the U.S.–Amsterdam market. We find that this practice, considering all circumstances, violates the U.S.–EU Agreement, and we believe the complaints should be upheld.”

In a statement to Dinogo, JetBlue expressed that its routes to New York and Boston have “already provided unique value to customers—offering both affordable fares and excellent service in a market largely dominated by partner airlines KLM, Air France, and Delta. We look forward to continuing our discussions with all stakeholders to ensure JetBlue's ongoing presence in Amsterdam.”

Other airlines have also voiced opposition to the restrictions

ACNL managing director Hugo Thomassen refrained from naming other airlines, besides JetBlue, that would face denied slots at Schiphol this summer, citing commercial confidentiality. However, established carriers at Schiphol would also be significantly affected by ACNL’s proposed measures: Thomassen mentioned that 84 airlines with historical slots would have to reduce those slots by 3.1 percent starting this summer.

For KLM, the Dutch flag carrier and a major opponent of the capacity reductions at Schiphol—its primary hub—these restrictions could lead to approximately 17 fewer flights per day compared to pre-pandemic levels, as indicated by an airline spokesperson to Dinogo.

KLM, along with other major airlines and industry groups, has initiated legal actions against the government’s plans to reduce capacity at Schiphol, which proposed ultimately cutting flights to 452,500 annually, nearly 10 percent below 2019 figures.

Currently, JetBlue’s new routes from JFK and Boston to Amsterdam remain operational. The airline is certainly keen to sustain—and grow—its presence in Europe, following its introduction to the region with its first transatlantic routes to London in 2021 and the recent launch of service to Paris in summer 2023, along with its two newest European routes: Dublin and Edinburgh, set to commence in spring 2024.