The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has approved a complaint submitted by JetBlue and airline lobbyist group Airlines for America (A4A) in September against the Netherlands and European Union for an alleged violation of the US-EU Air Transport Agreement. The approval of the complaint stems from Schiphol’s decision to cut capacity, a move that would result in JetBlue losing landing slots at the airport next summer.

JetBlue has urged the US government to respond in kind by restricting KLM flights into New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

“The department will engage the government of the Netherlands and the European Commission on this matter in consultations on Nov. 13,” the DOT said in an order on Thursday. “It is our hope that these consultations will result in meaningful progress toward resolution, without our needing to pursue further regulatory action.

Schiphol first announced capacity limits in September, a move brought as the Dutch government seeks to cut noise pollution and carbon emissions from the airport. The flight cap at 452,500 annually is 10% below the airport’s 2019 traffic.

The announcement of the capacity limits was met with industry backlash. KLM itself called the cap “damaging” and “unnecessary.” Prior to the announcement of flight cuts, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) cautioned against severe consequences for restrictions in passenger and cargo operations at Schiphol.

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