Which runways are used depends on many factors, primarily the weather and the volume of air traffic. In addition, there are rules governing runway use. Together with the airport, LVNL ensures that aircraft can land and take off safely, with as little disturbance to the surrounding area as possible.
Peak hours, off-peak hours and nighttime
During peak hours (when a large number of aircraft need to land or depart), three runways are usually in use simultaneously. Outside peak hours, two runways are in use. In exceptional circumstances (for example during a storm), sometimes only one runway can be used, for both take-offs and landings. Between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., only one departure runway and one landing runway are in use. In principle, these are the Kaagbaan and the Polderbaan, as the use of these runways results in the least overall noise disturbance. The arrival and departure routes for these runways largely run over less densely populated areas than those of the other runways.
Runway availability
Weather conditions have a major impact on runway use at Schiphol. This includes passing rain showers with thunderstorms, rain or snow. In poor visibility, for example during fog, certain runway combinations cannot be used because they are aligned with each other. Wind also plays an important role: aircraft take off and land as much as possible into the wind for safety reasons. In addition, runways at Schiphol require regular maintenance. Due to maintenance or inspections, a runway may be unavailable for a shorter or longer period.