Amsterdam airport backtracks on plan to reduce noise

The Dutch government has abandoned, for now, plans to reduce the impact of aircraft noise on residents around Amsterdam's Schipol airport.  The proposals were previously  blocked by Dutch courts for not following proper procedure in the spring, then the decision was overturned on appeal in July. This latest decision follows protests from the United States, Canada and others, and warnings from the EU that European law and aviation agreements could be breached. The Dutch government is a majority stakeholder in Schipol, which is one of Europe's busiest aviation hubs. They had proposed to reduce the annual number of flights by 11% - from 500,00 to 460,000 - to bring down noise and nitrogen oxide pollution, by phasing out night flights, and to also ban private jets from using the airport. Schipol ad orignally said it wanted to be 'quieter, cleaner and better'.