Transport minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen is poised to announce a further delay in the expansion of Lelystad airport into commercial flights, RTL Nieuws said on Wednesday.

Lelystad should be open to charter holiday flights from next year, but that will now be pushed back until 2020, the broadcaster said.

The minister is said to want more time to deal with the complex procedures surrounding the change in the airport’s use, which is opposed by locals and people living under the potential flight paths.

Lelystad is being expanded to reduce the pressure on Schiphol airport which will focus on intercontinental flights and transit passengers. But the expansion plans have led to major protests by people who will be affected by low-flying planes.

In addition, last year it emerged that the noise calculations for local residents were wrong and that people will suffer far more aircraft nuisance than expected.