Netherlands' Rotterdam Airport closes runway to Queen, cabinet

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and the Dutch government have been banned from using Rotterdam Airport, Dutch news agency ANP reported on Friday.

According to the reports, the decision to refuse government flights was taken after the Ministry for Transport imposed a 500, 000-euro fine on the airport for breaching noise regulations.

Airport director Roland Wondolleck was quoted by ANP as saying that it was government flights that resulted in the airport breaking the noise regulations.

The military base at Valkenburg, a small town near The Hague, was shut down last year and government flights which used to leave from the base were transferred to Rotterdam.

This involves dozens of flights a week, most of which take place at night.

The government information service (RVD) said that Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Queen Beatrix will divert to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport or the air force base at Eindhoven from now on.

Rotterdam Airport will still be used in urgent situations, the RVD said.

Source: Xinhua