The Dutch government after more than ten tears of discussions, with a new political coalition leading the Netherlands has provided clarity about the future of Lelystad Airport located 6.5 kilometres south southeast of the city of Lelystad in Flevoland, the biggest general aviation airport in the country.
Lelystad air hub became an official airport in 1973, is owned by by Royal Schiphol Group, which also manages Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, is also the base of AIS Airlines, although they do not operate scheduled flights from the Dutch airport.
Lelystad Airport aims to open its doors in 2027 and welcome the first passengers for holiday flights, and its opening for commercial traffic has a lot of support in the region and among the Dutch.
On fine days, there are between 350 - 400 air transport movements, and Leystad airport has around 80.000 air transport movements per year, and now the airport is ready to take a new role by welcoming commercial flight.
Construction has started for a passenger terminal with an area of 12.000 square metres, with 7.000 m2 as a passenger waiting area, 3.000 square metres is designed for baggage handling, 800m2 for offices and 1.200 square metres reserved for restaurants and shops.
The runway has been extended to 3.300 metres and widened, while parking postions for aircraft have been constructed. With this development Lelystad Airport will be able to support operations up to 10.000 flight movements per year, for holiday/leisure air traffic. This corresponds to a a total of 14 flights per day and will help to partially allieviate Amsterdam Schiphol Airport’s saturation.
In a release, the European region of Airports Council (ACI Europe) , the only worldwide professional association of airport operators, welcomed the Dutch Government’s to finally open Lelystad Airport to commercial flights, calling it a necessary and strategic step to safeguard the Netherlands’s connectivity, competitiveness, and regional development.
The decision will enable the Dutch aviation system to better meet current and future demand, while supporting economic growth, territorial cohesion, and resilience dual civil - military use.
Lelystad Airport CEO Jan Eerkens said that it's is a pleasure that the free forming parties have made real choices and have decided that Lelystad Airport can finally open a full - fledged passenger airport. This decision is a starting signal to get to work as quickly as possible.
Together with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Air Traffic Control in the Netherlands, the province, municipalities, airlines, and the surroundings, there will be the opening of the airport as soon as possible. All will be carefully managed within the legal requirements, and it’s important to continue involving neighbours in the development of Lelystad Airport.
For Lelystad Airport, it goes without saying that the airport does this in good harmony with its neighbours and the surrounding area. The arport has worked intensively with all those directly involved in recent years and made concrete agreements, and the aim is to continue to do so.
Director General of ACI Europe Olivier Jankovec stated that there is no doubt whatsoever that allowing the use of Lelystad Airport will boast the Dutch economy and deliver significant socio - economic benefits at local and regional level.
With every 10% increase in air connectivity generating a 0.5% rise in GDP per capita and a 1.6% increase in employment, ensuring that airports can accommodate demand is a prerequisite for economic growth, cohesion and the fight against territorial inequality.
ACI Europe’ Director added that this decision is also very relevant for Europe’ competitiveness. At a time where global competitors are expanding airport capacity and placing air connectivity at the heart of their economic and strategic development policies,
Europe is facing an acute airport capacity crunch that simply failed to develop infrastructure in line with demand and have been squeezing the lemons for too long. The decision on Lelystad Airport therefore sends an important signal, not just for the Netherlands, but for Europe’s competitiveness as a whole.
Link
https://www.travelmole.com/news/netherlands-open-lelystad-airport-holiday-flights/
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