Huge EU airport ranked among world's busiest to be transformed with £5bn upgrade

A constantly bustling EU airport has unveiled its biggest-ever investment plan to the tune of €6 billion (around £5.1 billion).

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, located in the Netherlands, handles around 1,390 flights per day - connecting the Dutch city to more than 171 European destinations and 109 hotspots worldwide. For Brits, Schiphol is the most popular airport for UK holidaymakers heading to Amsterdam, and serves as a major hub for connecting flights to the likes of Buenos Aires, Cancun, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles.

Previously ranked as the world's third busiest airport by International passenger traffic, Schiphol Airport welcomed a staggering 36.1 million passengers in the first half of 2024 alone. This is a huge 11 per cent increase compared to the previous year, and amounts to underlying results of a whopping €99 million (approximately £84.26 million).

Its major regeneration scheme, which was announced on August 30,2024, aims to improve the airport's infrastructure, working conditions, and 'service towards passengers and airlines'. The mega project is slated to for completion in 2029.

"Our infrastructure is the foundation of our service, but is currently far from what we want to offer our passengers as a quality airport in the Netherlands," CEO Pieter van Oord said last year. "We have a major investment plan of six billion because it is crucial to bring back passenger satisfaction and top service to our airlines.

"At the same time, we need to restore the balance between the benefits and burdens of Schiphol. We are and will remain committed to reducing our noise impact on our surroundings and to improving the working conditions of all employees at our airport."

Schiphol, which states it is 'constantly evolving' to modern-day consumer demand, has vowed to build a new pier and an additional viaduct to renovate passenger gates and improve aircraft parking facilities. Just two months after announcing the regeneration scheme, the hub confirmed it had opened a new passenger link from Pier B to Pier C after relocating catering catering outlets and shops so that the BC corridor could be closed to make room for a new baggage basement.

"By starting initial site work now, we are ensuring that we will soon have space to build the new baggage basement," Schiphol's official website stated. "We expect the final design to be completed by mid-2026, after which we can begin construction of the baggage basement. With the construction of the new basement we are ensuring that, in addition to operational continuity, the working conditions of baggage employees will be further improved."

In February, Schiphol confirmed work had commenced to renovate its bus station. Passengers will have to use temporary bus stops until 2027, when a new bus station, with a large covered bus platform and three new stairs to the train platform, will be finalised.

A new arrival passage along Koepselstraat was built to free up space at Schiphol Plaza Bus Station, in front of Jan Dellaertplein. "This arrival passage has been in use for almost a year now," the airport said. "Crew transport and taxis ordered by app (such as Uber and Bolt) moved here one year ago, and coaches followed in August 2024. This created space around the bus station, enabling it to be renovated."

A new route, marked with blue lines below, has also been created for deliveries to the Sheraton Hotel. Delivery vehicles can access the hotel via Schiphol Boulevard and should use the designated area for turning or parking to make their deliveries. After unloading, delivery vehicles can continue on to Koepelstraat to leave the area.

"It is in everyone's interest that Schiphol once again becomes a high-quality airport with robust infrastructure and excellent service to our passengers and airlines," said CFO Robert Carsouw. "Our investment plans of 6 billion euros in the next five years are larger than ever before and fundamental to achieve this. Realising our ambitions require a significant step-up and acceleration of our operational cash flows, without losing focus on our competitiveness."

Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured.