JetBlue Seeks KLM Ban in New York Amid Schiphol Downsizing

DALLAS — JetBlue Airways (B6) is urging the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to ban KLM (KL) from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) if B6 can no longer fly to and from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (AMS).

The report comes from NL Times, a Dutch newsletter in English, stating that B6's action is in response to the Dutch government's plans to reduce its annual aircraft movements from about 500,000 to approximately 460,000 in 2024 as part of its effort to cut noise pollution.

At the end of September, B6 filed a complaint with the DOT against the Netherlands and the European Union over the Dutch government's move to curb traffic at AMS. In a letter, the Long Island City-headquartered airline indicated that it understood from conversations with the Dutch slot coordinator that its brand-new take-off and landing rights would be revoked.

Tit for Tat

JetBlue says that U.S. legislation allows the government to retaliate for allegedly unfair treatment of U.S. airlines. B6 calls a full ban on KL flying to and from JFK “proportionate” retaliation for the Dutch government's proposed cuts at AMS.

The American airline also suggested that another option could be for KLM to transfer part of its own landing rights at AMS to B6 for the coming summer season, thereby allowing B6 to continue to fly in and out of the Amsterdam airport.

JetBlue began flying to AMS from the U.S. in August. Currently, B6 flies nonstop to AMS from JFK and Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS) using Airbus A321-LR (Long Range) aircraft.

Featured image: N4062J JetBlue Airbus A321-271NX A21N at JFK. Photo: Francesco Cecchetti/Airways

https://airwaysmag.com/jetblue-disputes-dutch-eu-ams-cap/