The Dutch are slightly more negative about aviation in the Netherlands in 2020 than in the previous years. The Dutch now think much more often that the number of flights in the Netherlands – once the corona crisis is over – should decrease compared to the level in 2018 and 2019. One third of air travellers expect to fly less after the corona crisis than they were used to before. This has emerged from a survey by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management among a representative sample of 1,746 Dutch people.

Netherlands as a holiday destination is more appreciated 

Four in ten air travellers say that they have come to appreciate holidays in their own country more during the corona crisis. A third of respondents is willing to spend more holidays in their own country than abroad. In 2019 only 28% were willing to do this and 45% not.

Support for growth is declining sharply
Support for the growth of aviation has declined: in 2018 and 2019, 35% thought that the number of flights should be able to increase, in 2020 this has dropped to 14%. And support for shrinkage has risen sharply: in 2018 and 2019, 24% were in favour of this, now it has increased to 49%. That is most often due to the environmental pollution. In 2019 there were some 603,000 flight movements in the Netherlands divided over 5 airports in the Netherlands.

More support for flight tax
More than four in ten Dutch people are in favour of introducing a flight tax. There has been an upward trend in support for a flight tax since 2018.

Aviation must be more sustainable
The Dutch believe that aviation should operate more sustainably. Eight in ten are positive about the development of quieter and more fuel-efficient aircraft and seven in ten are positive about the development of electric and hybrid aircraft.

Stimulate train
About eight in ten Dutch people are positive about the promotion of the train as an alternative to short flight distances which is the same as in 2019. The proportion that is willing to take the train more often on short flight distances has remained the same as in 2019.

Dutch want to fly less
On average, all Dutch citizens flew about 1.2 times a year for private proposes in 2019. This year, this was roughly half as a result of the corona crisis. Half of the Dutch who flew privately from time to time expect to fly as much after the corona crisis as before. Three in ten indicate they will probably fly less and 7% more. Three in ten travellers who occasionally flew privately indicate that they have realized how harmful it is for the environment.
Although a third of air travellers expect to fly less after the corona crisis, the willingness to fly less has not increased. Just like in 2018 and 2019, four in ten are willing to travel by air less often in the future.

Read here the report of the research (only in Dutch).