Readers will have seen the many reports covered here and on the Forum regarding the issues at Amsterdam Schiphol.
Our most recent report indicated that Schiphol’s capacity cap might be extended throughout the summer months. Now it’s emerged that this capacity cap is against consumer interests by limiting the arrival of new entrants.
Ishrion Aviation revealed that US carrier Jetblue had asked for the Aeroflot slots at Schiphol. (Aeroflot is currently banned from EU airspace.)
The request was made last September with a view to launching transatlantic services in summer 2023. Schiphol, however, denied the request and removed these slots (presumably because home airline KLM needs all the slots it can get).
Now, against the background of a capacity cap and the government’s new noise reduction plan at Schiphol, Jetblue is once again seeking slots to operate from New York and Boston.
NEW: JetBlue seeks to launch flights to Amsterdam, Netherlands with two routes:
– Amsterdam (AMS) to New York (JFK)
– Amsterdam (AMS) to Boston (BOS)JetBlue has proposed to operate each route daily using its Airbus A321LRs. However, JetBlue is facing issues with AMS slots: pic.twitter.com/Qd5FE0DbXh
— Ishrion Aviation (@IshrionA) February 14, 2023
As can be seen below, Jetblue has asked the US DOT (Department of Transport) to put pressure on the Netherlands’ government to provide it with at least two daily KLM slots.
This is not unusual. Readers may remember that Norwegian long-haul faced a similar issue. KLM had to surrender slots so Norwegian could launch Amsterdam-New York.
With the Dutch government limiting AMS capacity (noise reduction plan), JetBlue continues to face issues entering the airport.
JetBlue asks the U.S. DOT to make KLM provide at least 2 daily AMS slots if Dutch authorities continue to deny JetBlue’s requests. pic.twitter.com/2i5qIgqKwy
— Ishrion Aviation (@IshrionA) February 14, 2023
In fact, years before Jetblue arrived in Europe it was thought that Amsterdam would be its initial gateway. As it turned out, Jetblue opted for London instead.
Business Traveller will follow this news, along with the situation at Schiphol.
