Lelystad sees F-35 airbase as shortcut to commercial flights – DutchNews.nl

Lelystad local council has said it will only consider allowing its airport to become a new base for F-35 fighter planes if commercial flights also get the green light.

The council’s reaction comes after the defence ministry mentioned Lelystad airport as a promising location for the base, as part of its search for more space for “a growing defense capability”.

According to councillor Dennis Grimbergen, having just the base to the exclusion of commercial activities would hold back the region’s economic development.

The Flevoland provincial authorities backed the council’s stand.

In January, MPs voted against opening the airport to commercial traffic because of noise nuisance, climate and nitrogen issues, but the current government’s infrastructure minister Barry Madlener said he hoped to do so next year.

The airport authorities said they were not sure the airport could accommodate the base. “It was designed for commercial traffic. The ministry will have to investigate if this is a proper location,” a spokesman told Omroep Flevoland.

Apart from Lelystad, former base De Peel in Limburg and Groningen airport Eelde figure on the defense ministry’s list.

Groningen deputy Yvonne Turenhout said that it was “incomprehensible” that the government would launch another bombshell plan before repairing trust over its handling of the quake damage to their houses.

“We really expected Eelde to be exempt. It’s crystal-clear to us that a base would ask too much of the locals,” she said.

Limburg provincial authorities have also rejected a base on its doorstep. Twente Airport and Woensdrecht air base were also mentioned but can only provide half of the space the ministry needs.