KLM has raised concerns about the Dutch government’s plans to increase the national flight tax further, warning it risks pushing travellers across the border to Belgium and Germany.
According to research by Markteffect, 74% of Dutch passengers would consider departing from foreign airports if ticket prices rise further, while 87% believe tax revenues should instead be invested in making aviation more sustainable.
KLM CEO Marjan Rintel said The Netherlands is becoming “the most expensive country in the EU for air travel,” noting that since 2021, the share of Dutch travellers flying from Düsseldorf and Brussels has already grown significantly. She warned that higher costs “put pressure on our airline network and strike at the heart of the Netherlands’ global connectivity.”
Currently, the estimated €1.1 billion annual proceeds from the tax go into the state treasury. KLM argues that, like other sectors benefiting from green subsidies, aviation revenues should be used to scale up sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and support cleaner flying.