The US has vowed retaliation if American airlines are restricted by the Netherlands.
The Netherlands main hub, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, plans to place flight caps to reduce congestion and noise pollution.
US transport secretary Sean Duffy said European countries that make ‘unwarranted’ restrictions to the EU-US aviation agreement would be hit with retaliatory action.
Duffy cited recent action taken against Mexico for a similar move at Mexico City airport.
Duffy said Mexico’s action is a ‘flagrant violation’ of the existing aviation agreement.
He sees a similar situation in the Netherlands.
The Dutch government plans to reduce the maximum number of flights at Schiphol from 500,000 per year to 478,000 per year starting from November.
This could see airlines lose airport slots.
Delta Air Lines operates Amsterdam flights.
Any retaliation would impact Dutch flag carrier KLM.
The US is its most important market outside Europe.
