WILLEMSTAD – The Dutch competition authority ACM has approved a sharp 41% increase in airline fees at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for 2025. The price hike is intended to compensate for financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic and to fund overdue infrastructure maintenance.
For passengers, this likely means more expensive airline tickets—including for those traveling between the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom and the Netherlands. With many flights to and from Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire transiting through Schiphol, the impact could be significant for residents of the islands.
Rising Costs, Reduced Accessibility
Schiphol’s airline fees have already risen by 77% since 2019. Airlines such as KLM, TUI, and Corendon have criticized the latest hike, warning that soaring costs are making the Netherlands less attractive as an aviation hub for both passenger and cargo services.
Critics argue the airport is losing competitiveness, and that more travelers may begin opting for cheaper airports in Belgium or Germany. If this trend continues, it could lead to fewer flight options between the Netherlands and the Caribbean islands.
Regulatory Controversy
While ACM states the increase complies with current aviation laws, opponents argue those regulations give Schiphol too much leeway and offer insufficient protection for airlines and passengers. Calls are growing in Dutch political circles to revise the legal framework.
Aviation organizations also highlight that Schiphol earns substantial profits from commercial services such as retail stores, offices, and parking, but those revenues are not factored into the airport’s airline fees. Airlines argue this is unfair, given that they bring in the very passengers who fuel those profits.
Schiphol: Investments Are Necessary
Schiphol defends the fee hike, saying it needs the funds for a €6 billion investment plan, which includes new construction, renovations, and stricter noise control policies. The airport also plans to introduce penalties for noisy aircraft and discounts for quieter planes.
Looking ahead, airline fees are set to rise another 7% in 2026, followed by a 12.5% reduction in 2027. Over the full multi-year period, the net increase will still amount to more than 37%.
Impact on Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire
For residents of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire, Schiphol’s higher fees spell potential trouble. As one of the most important transit hubs for travel to Europe—whether for family visits, education, or medical care—the increased costs at Schiphol could mean higher ticket prices and even fewer available flights.
Although the exact impact on the islands remains uncertain, there is a strong likelihood that Caribbean travelers will end up sharing the burden of Schiphol’s growing fees.
