Dutch transport inspectors have fined four airlines a total of over €1 million for flying at night without having the proper take-off and landing rights, and for failing to return their unused slots.

The biggest fine – €930,000 – went to EasyJet. British Airways was fined €50,000 and tour operator TUI €120,000. Budget airline Vueling was fined €25,000.

The fines, for illegally flying at night and failing to return landing and take-off rights which they had not used, are based on the noise category the aircraft falls into. The flights affected Schiphol and Eindhoven airports.

Airlines are only allowed to take off and land between 11 pm and 7 pm if they have been allocated a slot to do so, or unless the weather or technical problems make it necessary.

The new measures were introduced in 2021 and make it much harder for airlines to blame technical or other issues for flying unnecessarily at night. They also allowed transport ministry inspectors to issue fines.

The inspectors say the rules have been kept much better since 2023 and that EasyJet has not broken the rules on night flying since then.