JetBlue Losing Schiphol Slots, Delta Facing Cuts, For Summer 2024

JetBlue Airways has not been allocated any slots for summer service to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) airport, as a Dutch government plan to limit flights proceeds.

Dutch airport slot coordinator ACNL confirmed JetBlue is one of two dozen airlines which, without historic slots, would not receive any for the IATA summer season 2024. The New York-based carrier launched daily service to AMS from New York JFK on Aug. 29 and from Boston on Sept. 20 and is among a group of airlines and associations contesting the Dutch government’s decision to reduce flight movements at the international hub.

In a complaint filed against the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the European Union in late September, JetBlue urged the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) to intervene and consider “targeted and impactful countermeasures,” including reciprocal reductions for Dutch carriers in scheduled service to the U.S.

Airlines for America (A4A) has also requested DOT intervention and action, warning that a reduction of aircraft operations at Schiphol would result in severe harm.

JetBlue says under Open Skies, the U.S. and Dutch governments have an obligation to safeguard its access to the market. “We look forward to continuing to engage with all stakeholders to ensure that JetBlue can continue to maintain its presence in Amsterdam going forward,” an airline spokesperson said.

Dutch authorities first announced the plan in 2022, citing a desire to reduce noise and other environmental impacts, and seeking to eventually reduce annual flights by nearly 10% when compared to 2019.

As the plan proceeds in its first stage, 84 airlines with historic rights at AMS will need to reduce their portfolio by 3.1%, ACNL MD Hugo Thomassen told Aviation Daily. It represents a total reduction of 9,070 slots, 252 of which will come from Delta Air Lines. KLM and Delta are the airport’s largest airlines measured by ASK deployment; KLM with 54% and Delta with 10%, according to data from Aviation Week Network’s CAPA for the week of Oct 30. Delta serves AMS from Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York JFK, Orlando, Portland International, Salt Lake City, and Seattle.

“This decision is in violation of the U.S.-EU Open Skies Agreement and will negatively impact consumers,” a Delta spokesperson said. “Delta has initiated legal proceedings against this decision because it is in conflict with national, European and international regulations.”

According to ACNL, American Airlines will have 22 fewer slots at AMS next summer, United Airlines 53, and KLM 4,847.

Though a Dutch court initially ruled against the government plan in April, an Amsterdam appeals court overturned that ruling in July, calling the cuts “a temporary approach to a complex problem.” IATA and a coalition of associations and airlines including Delta, JetBlue, KLM, United are awaiting a ruling from cassation proceedings they initiated, challenging the appeals court ruling.