Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: Future focused
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We report on the latest news and developments from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) has long been one of the world’s most innovative hubs and a major economic generator for the Netherlands.
It is arguably the pioneer of the airport city in terms of the co-ordinated development of non-aeronautical related facilities around the airport site, and a leader in the trial and adoption of new technologies, new passenger facilitation concepts and sustainability initiatives.
The desire to permanently look to improve instead of standing still and resting on its laurels, aided by the success and route network of home carrier KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, has ensured that it has been one of Europe’s busiest airports for decades.
Indeed, the 61.9 million passengers to pass through its facilities in 2023 cemented Schiphol’s status as the third busiest international airport on the planet, and fourth busiest in Europe for passenger traffic after London Heathrow, iGA Istanbul, and Paris-CDG.
Last year’s total represented a healthy 18% upturn on the 52.5 million passengers it welcomed in 2022, although it was still 14% down on the 71.7 million it accommodated in pre-COVID 2019.
Nevertheless, passenger traffic is on a steep upward trajectory, and that has continued in the first half of 2024, with throughput up 11% on last year’s figures, including the 5% rise in June when almost six million travellers used AMS.
This year’s upturn – the airport handled 31.8 million passengers in the first six months of 2024 – means that if the summer goes as well as anticipated, AMS is expected to handle between 65-69 million passengers in the calendar year.
And with the Dutch government recently shelving controversial noise abatement plans to reduce the number of flights allowed at AMS from 500,000 now to 460,000 by Winter 2024, there really is no reason why AMS cannot continue to grow and develop for years to come, primarily through modernising its existing facilities and embracing new technology rather than building additional infrastructure.
Having said that, AMS operator, the Royal Schiphol Group, has no intention of letting its existing terminals become old and tired, so it is investing €1.4 billion on a new Pier A set to open in 2027 and will continue to upgrade and enhance its existing facilities to boost the airport’s operational efficiency and the customer experience.
In fact, it has already outlined plans to invest €3 billion in maintenance and upgrades between 2024 and 2027 to raise the quality of Schiphol’s facilities and services and make the airport more sustainable.
Pier C, the baggage basement, climate-control systems, walkways, aircraft stands and taxiways are among the key airport infrastructure due to undergo major maintenance or need renewing.
New Pier A
Schiphol’s currently under construction Pier A is expected to open in April 2027 and provide “an important pillar” in the extra quality and comfort that Schiphol wants to offer passengers and airlines.
In outlining the planned opening date for the new €1.4 billion facility, which will be completed by new contractor BAM Bouw en Techniek (BAM), the airport believes it provides clarity for the airlines which can now be confident that the project is back on track.
Being built to LEED Gold standards, the 55,000sqm pier will boast eight gates, including three for the largest aircraft, that the airport admits are crucial for it to meet current and future peak demand, in terms of passenger flow, aircraft stands and fleet renewal.
Spread across three floors and resembling a terminal in its own right, Pier A will have its own security filters, border control area, shops, and F&B facilities.
“We will get the keys to the new Pier A in December 2026, after which we’ll conduct operational testing of the new systems and hundreds of colleagues and airport partners will learn how to work in the new environment,” enthuses executive director for Schiphol infrastructure, Sybren Hahn.
“Then, in April 2027, we will open the doors to passengers and airlines. A lot still needs to be done before then. Together with BAM, we’re putting our shoulders to the wheel.”
Sustainable development
The Royal Schiphol Group prides itself on its sustainability efforts which have gained AMS a host of awards, one of which was being among the first ten airports in the world to achieve new Level 5 certification in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.
Reflecting on the achievement, the airport’s head of sustainability, Denise Pronk, says: “This accreditation is a significant milestone and it’s in line with our ambition to be one of the most sustainable and high-quality airports in the world.
“We’ve lowered the CO2 emissions produced by our own activities by 90% compared to 2010. But we’re not stopping there; we continue to work towards an emission-free airport in 2030.
“Schiphol and our partners’ electric ground equipment fleets are getting bigger and bigger, we run entirely on Dutch wind power, and the terminal and our buildings are gradually being taken off the gas grid. At the same time, we continue to work on making aviation more sustainable.”
One of the most recent sustainability innovations at AMS is the installation and testing of the world’s first super battery at an airport.
In what is being described as a world exclusive, Schiphol has taken a major step toward energy storage and the further electrification of ground equipment with the arrival of an Iron Flow Battery at the airport.
The large battery, recently installed on the A/B apron, offers a reliable power supply for the charging of electrical equipment and thus relieves pressure on the grid.
It will be tested extensively over the coming months when it will be used to supply electricity to Schiphol’s electric Ground Power Units (e-GPUs) on the A/B apron, which of course, help enhance the air quality on the apron and reduce noise.
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Photo courtesy of Roger Cremers.
AMS notes that the Iron Flow Battery is distinguished by its use of natural components. In contrast to commonly used lithium batteries, it works using iron and salt water – materials that are widely available, have a lower environmental impact and are fire safe. The capacity of the battery remains constant for up to 20 years.
“I am extremely proud of this innovation. The Iron Flow Battery is a great example of how we as an airport want to lead the way with innovative infrastructure that improves the quality of work,” notes Hahn.
“During the test period, the focus is on user-friendliness, reliability and efficiency. If the result is successful, more batteries will follow, with the aim of making all ground equipment emission-free and electric.”
The battery is partly subsidised by the EU and part of TULIPS – a European collaboration of 32 aviation parties and knowledge institutes led by Royal Schiphol Group. The programme runs until the end of 2025 and aims to accelerate the development of innovations that can make airports more sustainable.
Another sustainability project worth highlighting is Schiphol’s initiative with BAM to improve the climate control systems in Pier E on the way towards becoming a CO2 emissions free airport.
The project involves traditional gas-powered boilers being replaced by an additional electric heat pump and the installation of new air conditioning units which will be connected to the existing thermal energy storage system underground.
Key to this project are the efficient use of energy and increased sustainability at the airport. Schiphol’s goal is for all its own buildings to be off the gas grid by 2030.
“This collaboration with BAM at Pier E is a step in the right direction,” adds Hahn. “Pier E used an average of 290,000m3 of natural gas each year. That amount must be lowered to zero by 2030. This is only possible if we renew and replace our existing assets. New climate control systems that do not use gas will help us to significantly lower our gas usage.
“We will be introducing proven solutions, such as thermal energy storage, at Pier E. That’s a major task at a location that is always operational. This sometimes makes it a complex puzzle along with other replacement maintenance, but we are eager to get to work.”
The airport notes that part of the terminal, most of the piers and several offices already partially run on thermal energy storage systems. This is a sustainable system that stores energy underground in the form of heat and cold. Pier E is one of the first piers to make the full transition to thermal energy storage.
Always innovating
As we reported in the September/October issue of Airport World last year, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport continues to innovate by using smart solutions to enhance its operational efficiency and help secure its long-term future.
Schiphol recently launched a new collaboration with South Korea’s Incheon Airport and Norwegian airport operator, Avinor, to pool their respective knowledge to accelerate innovation in baggage handling.
Under the umbrella of the BOOST programme, the trio have agreed to work together on new technologies and improvements in the area of robotics and automation in baggage handling.
Elsewhere on the airport site, Schiphol continues to conduct trials of self-driving vehicles, the latest project involving the use of two Ohmio electric autonomous buses to transport airport staff short distances.
In an earlier trial the buses followed a fixed airside route, stopping at locations close to several cleaning and ground handling companies where they picked up and dropped off employees.
The airport basically wants to discover more about the advantages of autonomous transport and, just as importantly, what employees think of it and whether they are happy to use it.
Staff recruitment and retention
I think it is no secret that staff numbers at Amsterdam Schiphol were hit hard by the COVID pandemic, and like many other airports across the globe, it initially proved difficult to recruit new employees to replace those that have left the industry.
Although staff numbers at the airport are now pretty much back to where they were before the pandemic, the Royal Schiphol Group recognises that the industry no longer has the job appeal that it had before COVID and that going forward it is going to have to do a lot more than before to attract the airport staff of tomorrow.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that in 2023 Schiphol invested a lot in creating higher wages and better working conditions for staff, and the move appears to have paid off, as the number of security guards working at the airport increased significantly. According to the airport, the extra manpower contributed to a “more comfortable experience for passengers”.
The airport operator also notes that in 2023 it made investments in new lifting aids in the baggage areas to make the work of baggage handlers easier, and says that it is taking important, and ongoing steps, to better protect employees against emissions from vehicles and aircraft.
And Schiphol hopes that a newly launched Amsterdam MBO Internship Pact in co-operation with local businesses and education providers will prove the catalyst for more airport internships in the future.
The airport states: “Working at Schiphol must remain attractive to everyone who dreams of working in aviation. From the baggage basement to the top of the control tower – the possibilities for meaningful and challenging work at the airport are endless.
“Having the opportunity to do an internship at Schiphol is more important than ever. This kind of practical work experience teaches you how to deal with the challenges that arise when working at an airport.”
A beautiful airport, but too big and complicated. Recently had 80 minutes to transfer from one end of the terminal to the very other end. Good thing that I was in a wheelchair otherwise I would not have made the connection in time.