Martinair is to operate four new full freighter aircraft, which will be delivered at the end of 2026. The air cargo carrier, part of the KLM Group, plans to replace its current Boeing 747 freighters with the cleaner and quieter Airbus A350F. The A350F offers a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the ageing Boeing 747 and is 50% less noisy. This is a prime example of fleet renewal that also results in less inconvenience for our neighbours.
Published on: 16 February 2023
Boeing 747s to be replaced earlier
‘Fleet renewal is an important part of KLM’s ambition to become more sustainable,’ says KLM CEO Marjan Rintel. ‘We take our responsibility in that regard. We want to emit less CO2 because of the climate and also reduce noise for local residents. The Airbus A350F reduces CO2 by over 40% and noise by 50% compared to their predecessors. That is why we decided to place this order earlier than originally planned.’ The Airbus A350F is made of lighter materials and thus has a lower take-off weight than, for example, the Boeing 747.
Fleet renewal combined with less noise nuisance
Airlines such as KLM are investing heavily in cleaner and quieter aircraft. That is good news for neighbours, as it reduces noise impact in the vicinity of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The Boeing 747 freighters operated by Martinair appears often in the list of top 20 flights resulting in most complaints reported to the Local Community Contact Centre Schiphol (Dutch acronym: BAS). Once these aircraft have been replaced by the quieter Airbus A350F at the end of 2026, we hope that fewer reports will be made about them and that our neighbours will experience less noise nuisance.
Read more about fleet renewal at minderhinderschiphol.nl (Dutch only).
Reduced charges for quieter aircraft
At Schiphol, we reward airlines that fly quieter aircraft, giving them a discount of up to 60% compared to the basic airport charges to take off and land. This reduction does not apply to night flights, for which we charge higher rates anyway. These charges can be as much as 600% above the basic rate, depending on the type of aircraft flown at night. You can read more about the airport charges here.