schiphol © Jarretera

Dutch organisations, including KLM and the government, are fighting back over Kalitta Air’s claim that its slots at Schiphol Airport were “wrongfully withheld”.

Last month, the US cargo carrier called on the US Department of Transportation (DoT) to restrict or suspend KLM’s US cargo operations due to a complaint made against the Dutch government, Schiphol (AMS) and Stichting Airport Coordination Netherlands (ACNL).

Kalitta claimed “unjustifiably and unreasonably discriminatory” actions to restrict its access to the Amsterdam-New York route.

In a filing to the DoT, ...

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  • Jonathan Holmes

    March 04, 2019 at 6:19 am

    “KLM also denies receiving preferential treatment from the Dutch authorities, saying the claim was “patently false”.

    “In KLM’s experience, ACNL has been scrupulously even-handed in its treatment of airlines. The discrimination Kalitta alleges simply does not exist, and Kalitta’s false narrative provides no basis whatsoever for retaliation against KLM or its affiliates.”|

    Doesn’t the Dutch government now have the second largest equity share (~13%) of AF/KL? Slightly lower than the French government share of 14%… So obviously they must be very impartial about decisions that affect the value of their investment.

    The US government owns 0% of Kalitta. And the reality is that not only are US carriers competing directly against other carriers but are also competing with the funding and influence of their respective governments as well.