Oil company Shell will stop supplying jet fuel to Lelystad Airport because it cannot make enough money at the airport, a Shell spokesperson confirmed to Omroep Flevoland.
The contract was cancelled in early August. “The reason is that Lelystad Airport has not become the commercial airport it was supposed to be at that time,” a Shell Aviation spokesman said. “There is simply little activity.”
Asked if the company was also pulling out of other smaller airports, the answer was no. “That applies specifically to Lelystad Airport.”
Shell informed airport users via email last week that deliveries would be halted from September 15. Since Lelystad Airport will be closed for maintenance for two weeks from September 2, Shell will effectively stop at the beginning of September.
heavy traffic
Although Lelystad is the Netherlands’ busiest airport for general aviation, with more than 75,000 movements last year, Shell had hoped to open up to significant commercial air traffic. This was originally planned for 2018, but was delayed by successive governments due to resistance in the House of Representatives.
In January, the House of Representatives adopted a motion from the Party for the Animals, calling on the Cabinet to refrain from opening. There is resistance to Lelystad Airport, especially from Gelderland and Overijssel.
The new government must decide whether Lelystad will remain open for holiday flights in particular. The new Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management, Barry Madlener (PVV), made a preliminary visit to the airport last Thursday.
However, Shell's departure does not mean that refuelling at Lelystad will no longer be possible. The airport has concluded a new contract with the Belgian supplier, Check Six, through a public tender.
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