This was said by Lelystad Airport general director Jan Eerkens on Thursday during a meeting in the airport’s new terminal. There the kickoff was given for the anniversary year, as the airport celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. In doing so, Eerkens confirmed that he wants to offer the excess nitrogen space to agricultural businesses in Flevoland and Gelderland, which have been in limbo since 2019 verkeren about their emissions. That year, the Council of State nullified the Programmatic Approach to Nitrogen (PAS), which previous cabinets used to reduce emissions only in time wanted to compensate.
The purchase of the farms is sensitive. The House of Representatives wants the purchase undone, the province of Gelderland does not want Gelderland farms to be solve a problem at the neighboring province while there are also problems within its own borders is a nitrogen problem.
Nature permit
Should Lelystad Airport open, there is only a nitrogen surplus up to maximum 10,000 aircraft movements from the first phase of expansion. But not for the 45,000 movements, which, according to earlier plans, would not occur until around 2040. be achieved.
With the buyout of nitrogen rights, Lelystad Airport hopes to have met meet the requirement to apply for a nature permit. It is according to Eerkens to Minister Harbers (Infrastructure and Water Management) for a second problem to solve: a low flyway near Lemelerveld (Overijssel). There come descending aircraft from Germany towards Lelystad at 1.8 kilometers height left, but that is not acceptable to Overijssel.
Harbers’ predecessor Cora van Nieuwenhuizen said earlier that a solution was not possible, as traffic toward Schiphol Airport also passes higher over Lemerlerveld. But according to an employee of Air Traffic Control the Netherlands, this is where hard worked on and it does seem to be possible to raise the flight path a little higher.
Quick clarity
Director Eerkens and owner Luuk van Hooijdonk of flight company Wings over Holland both said there needs to be clarity soon on whether Lelystad will open for vacation flights. “We are at a T-junction as a company but also as an airport. We can’t turn left, we can’t turn right, we don’t know what is is going to happen. Deep in my heart, I hope that big aviation does not come, but if that is coming I would rather know today than tomorrow,” said Van Hooijdonk