Our Vision 2050: Safety & Robust organisation

Progressing the Safety Roadmap

In 2019, Schiphol made great progress on implementing the 2018 ‘Roadmap Safety Improvement Schiphol’, a long-term strategy to increase safety across day-to-day airside operations. The roadmap outlines 30 safety measures based on recommendations from the Dutch Safety Board, the Netherlands Aerospace Centre and the sector parties at Schiphol.

The key priorities include reducing runway incursions, minimising the risks of runway combination changes and crossings, and optimising infrastructure. Measures include the construction of an additional taxiway over the A4 motorway to reduce complications in ground operations, expanding the platform at the Zwanenburg runway, and digitising flight information strips at the ATC tower.

The measures are being carried out through a collaborative effort involving Schiphol Group, Air Traffic Control The Netherlands, airlines, ground handlers and refuelling services. This collaboration is based around an ‘open and just’ culture, in which all parties share responsibility, and employees can learn from mistakes and openly report concerns without fear of blame.

The roadmap is a ‘living document’ that will be updated twice a year for the foreseeable future – ensuring Schiphol remains safe for all.

New jobs programme

As an inclusive location, Schiphol Airport provides a relatively large number of jobs for low- to medium-skilled employees. In fact, approximately 6% of all people with a low or secondary level of education living in Greater Amsterdam currently work at the airport.

A three-year partnership between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and the municipality of Amsterdam will help strengthen Schiphol’s position as a responsible employer with strong community connections. The jobs programme, a joint effort between the Greater Amsterdam Employers' Service Point (WSP) and the Aviation Community Schiphol (LCS), will help find jobs for 750 people.

With more than 40 employers at Schiphol affiliated with the LCS, a wide range of opportunities are on offer. The main beneficiaries will be jobseekers who need an extra hand with finding work, such as people over the age of 50, those with an immigrant background or people with disabilities. The programme involves jobs for people with practical training, such as in cleaning, retail, catering, security and logistics.

Our aim is to give anyone who can and wants to work at Schiphol the opportunity to do so. In this way, we are ensuring Schiphol remains a welcoming, diverse and robust organisation.

Similarly, more serious incidents such as an aircraft accident, fire or an infectious disease outbreak must be managed as efficiently as possible. Schiphol has control measures and action plans in place to address the most important risks.

Tackling disruptions collectively

Schiphol has developed plans to cover all conceivable eventualities that could disrupt the continuity of operations. These plans outline the roles and tasks that Schiphol’s various departments have to carry out.

The eventualities are part of the larger contingency plan devised by the municipality of Haarlemmermeer and the Kennemerland Safety Region for their operating area. It contains mock scenarios for emergencies and disruptions, while employees have been trained to be aware of their responsibilities. Indeed, emergencies and disruptions are most effectively tackled collectively.

Schiphol’s new Airport Operations Centre (APOC) is a key tool in this endeavour, because it is crucial to look beyond the present and into the future to resume operations successfully following a disruption.

Adapting to a changing landscape

To keep up with a changing landscape, Schiphol is undertaking a series of large security-related construction projects. In 2015, the security model at Schiphol Airport was changed for extra-Schengen departures from a decentralised model (security at the gates) to a centralised model (security at centralised checkpoints). This was followed in 2019 by large-scale implementation of new CT technology that enables passengers to leave liquids and laptops in their hand baggage during security checks.

At the same time, large infrastructure projects are underway to accommodate growing passenger numbers in the Schengen Area, and to exchange all our hold bag screening equipment to meet incoming EU legislation. In addition, Schiphol is expanding capacity at the border to support the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.

These activities are carried out while the airport remains fully operational. The aim is to minimise inconvenience for our customers and to complete the major security works towards the end of 2020, so that all passengers can pass through ‘top of the line’ security checkpoints.

This does not mean our security efforts are finished, however – Schiphol is continually investing in innovative security measures to facilitate a seamless passenger flow.