SCHIPHOL, 03/10/06 - Schiphol is not adapting its fees for airlines for now. It will take until at least November 2007 until the Amsterdam airport can penalise the noisiest aircraft.

The intention was actually to take measures against very noisy aircraft via the fees structure in April 2007. This will now not be until 1 November next year at earliest. The postponement is due to a legislative amendment earlier this year.

The amendment means Schiphol has to rig up an accountability system that has to be approved by the Netherlands Mergers and Monopolies Authority (NMa). This process is still underway, so the fee changes cannot be introduced on time, according to the airport.

Schiphol is still among the 'cheap' European airports, but the gap with competitors such as London Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle in Paris is narrowing.