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Robert Carsouw, chief financial officer of Royal Schiphol Group, Stephan Satijn, Limburg's
Regional Minister for Economy, Land Management and Education, Dick Benschop, president and
CEO at Royal Schiphol Group

introduction of a linear reduction of aviation
allowances in accordance with other ETS sec-
tors. It also adheres to the policy conclusions
advanced in the Commission's climate target
plan, with the goal of meeting the now le-
gally enforceable climate objectives for 2030
and 2050, after the adoption of the European
Climate Law in July 2021.
companies, who are an important element “One of the things we have learned through
of the Dutch air cargo stream since we have a the years is that Covid has been a major alarm
large number of goods entering from Frankfurt for the sector, and we have been able to see
by road and being flown out through Schiphol. Last year was some of the opportunities that have come out
It will also increase prices, which will have an of it, such as developing our air cargo industry
impact on ultimate consumer payment prices,” remarkable for us, with a and diversifying. Situations such as covid
Meer added. and geopolitics prompted us as an airport to
year-over-year gain of more
reconsider our strategy. In order to continue
Benelux growth and than 31%. This year, and in supplying our services and continuing our
development general in Europe, we see a growth paths, we have embedded sustainabil-
Maastricht Aachen Airport (MAA) and Royal ity in everything we do. We have been very
Schiphol Group have reached an in-principle softening in demand, mostly much at the forefront of this in the European
agreement to start a strategic partnership. as a result of the Russia- sector, having won one of the European Green
"Schiphol will acquire a 40 percent interest in Deal programmes with our Stargate initiative,
MAA for €4.2 million ($4.1 million). As a result Ukraine war influencing in which we focus on reducing our carbon
of this agreement, the parties will invest in demand in the Western footprint and eventually reaching net zero
the future of MAA together. This far-reaching carbon footprints,” said Aerts.
cooperation is in line with the government's European market. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport aims to
aviation policy, requests from Parliament ensure that its operations are zero-carbon and
Geert Aerts
(Tweede Kamer), and the amendment of the Brussels Airport zero-waste by 2030, which means they aim to
Provincial Council of Limburg," says a release achieve a 100% reduction. These targets are
from Schiphol. volumes from 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes and well ahead of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement and
“The collaboration with Maastricht Airport is 400,000 passenger flights over the next 10 to the Dutch Climate Act.
still in its early stages. We will decide on what 15 years. One aspect on which we will focus “We started a sustainable aviation fuel
we will work on together by the end of the year our partnership will be the road network as the incentive programme with airlines earlier this
or the beginning of next year. When looking road network linking any airport in the Nether- year. We aim to kickstart the usage of sustain-
at aviation in the Netherlands from Schiphol's lands is excellent,” said Meer. able aviation fuel (SAF) at our airport because
perspective, there are highly difficult arguments we believe that offsetting is not the only way
regarding meeting sustainability targets. The How is Benelux achieving to meet carbon reduction targets. Sustainable
administration believes that the number of sustainability goals? Aviation Fuels will be critical components of
flights should be reduced. This is noteworthy Aviation accounts for 3.7% of the EU's total our 2030 goal. SAF is in great demand in the
because, according to IATA and ICAO, aviation CO2 emissions, and the Commission intends market, with a far larger demand than what is
will increase by 50% globally in the next ten to guarantee that the sector helps the Union available,” said Meer.
years, and Europe is a crucial stepping stone in meet its 2030 emissions reduction objec- Players in the Benelux business are optimistic
the aviation sector. With our collaboration, we tive. The proposal establishes the number of about the future of air cargo despite the obsta-
will focus on sustainability by minimizing noise aviation allowances in the Emission Trading cles. However, they believe that this can only
pollution from Maastricht Airport. There is also System (ETS) and the proportion of allow- happen if business leaders come together and
the possibility for Maastricht to increase freight ances available for auction, as well as the work together. 

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