The Week In Travel

Disgruntled airlines are planning a legal challenge against the Dutch government’s proposal to reduce capacity from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. The Netherlands hub announced last year that it will limit flights from 500,000 to 460,000 from November 2023 to reduce noise and air pollution. However, several airlines, including KLM, Delta Air Lines and easyJet, have joined forces to ‘challenge the government’s unilateral decision’. They are also joined by trade association IATA, which has claimed the government has not conducted proper consultation with the industry.

In the UK, London Heathrow Airport has been ordered to cut its passenger charges by around 20%. The country’s Civil Aviation Authority has decided to reduce the average maximum price per passenger the airport can charge its airline customers from £31.57 to £25.43. This charge is typically passed directly on to the passenger through the ticket price.

Across the pond, US-based airline JetBlue has announced a launch date for its transatlantic route from New York to Paris Charles de Gaulle. The carrier has confirmed the service will be launching from 29th June, with tickets now on sale for a daily service from that date.

In sustainability news, Icelandair has secured a deal which will see it reduce its carbon emissions by up to 10%. The airline has signed a memorandum of understanding with Iceland-based manufacturer IdunnH2 to take delivery of 45,000 tons of SAF from 2028 onwards to help power its international flights. And finally, an American woman received far more than she bargained for after her luggage was damaged on a flight. Payton complained to Delta Air Lines and the airline agreed to replace the damaged case. Imagine Payton’s surprise, then, when she was given not one replacement suitcase – but 13. Payton has since revealed that the collection of suitcases now occupies a space in her living room, or rather the whole room. Payton was however a good sport about it, claiming she ‘found the whole situation hilarious’ – so there was no emotional baggage.