Our Vision 2050: Quality of Network

As we expand our network with additional high-value destinations, we place particular emphasis on offering intercontinental (ICA) routes. Passengers today are able to fly direct between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and more than 330 destinations around the world, and around two-fifths of these are outside Europe.

Adapting to our customers’ needs

In 2019, Schiphol held its position as Europe’s second airport for direct connectivity as we welcomed several new intercontinental destinations to our network, including Medan (Indonesia), Lusaka (Zambia), Tampa and Las Vegas (US), Liberia (Costa Rica), Eilat (Israel) and Natal (Brazil).

With growing global demand for air travel, Schiphol closely monitors market developments for ways to further expand its network of destinations, particularly in developing regions. However, with constraints on Schiphol’s growth, increasing slot scarcity is causing airlines to refocus their approach. 2019 saw airlines swapping their cargo operations to passenger flights, using larger equipment or switching to high-yield destinations. A key focus for Schiphol going forward will be protecting the role of cargo operators as well as passenger carriers.

By keeping up to date with changing demands, and the evolving needs of both business and leisure passengers, as well as our other customers, we can ensure our network continues to grow in quality first and foremost, as well as in size.

Building new connections

To address this growing accessibility challenge and ensure the safety of all visitors, Schiphol and its partners are investing 237 million euros over the next few years in the airport’s public transport facilities, as part of the Dutch Multi-Year Programme for Infrastructure, Spatial Planning and Transport (MIRT).

Much of this investment will go towards renovating the train station and will be spent on increasing capacity, improving the station layout and creating better walkways for passengers.

New entrances and access gates will also be installed on the platforms, improving access and making more efficient use of space. In addition, a new bus ‘island’ will be added, providing direct access to the station and more logical walking routes to and from Schiphol Plaza. Money will also be spent on improving the flow of traffic and people around the airport site.

These investments will leave Schiphol better equipped to meet future demand while continuing to provide safe, easy access to the airport for passengers, visitors and workers alike.