Major upgrades at Amsterdam Schiphol set to improve the business travel experience

25 Nov

Quality and balance lie at the heart of Royal Schiphol Group’s newly announced investment programme for Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, as the operator pledges €10 billion by 2035 to upgrade facilities, improve the traveller experience and reduce environmental impact.

For UK-based business travellers, this is significant because improvements at a major European hub — including enhanced terminal comfort, quieter aircraft operations and better connectivity - will streamline and elevate the quality of international business travel.

The investment programme includes the construction of a new Terminal South with the airport’s signature single-terminal concept remaining intact, and the opening of Pier A in 2027 followed by renovations of Piers B, C, D and H/M to accommodate larger, quieter and cleaner aircraft. The airport states that these upgrades will support its ambition to return to the top three European hub airports in terms of quality.

In his formal statement, Chief Executive Pieter van Oord said

“For more than a century, Schiphol has been a home for world travellers, a hub for goods and a cornerstone of our economy. With our plans for the future, we want to maintain and strengthen that position and contribute to the progress of the Netherlands. Our future can be summed up in two words: quality and balance. This is how we keep the Netherlands moving and make a small country great. With a high-quality airport that serves the Netherlands.”

Building for the future: Schiphol Centre in 2050 - this video is presented in Dutch, with English subtitles.

The upgrade roadmap places emphasis not only on passenger comfort but also on environmental and societal factors: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport intends to reduce its own on-site emissions by 90 per cent by 2030 compared with 2019 levels - achieved via electrification of ground vehicles, elimination of natural-gas usage in buildings and provision of power and air-conditioning to parked aircraft so they can shut their engines. Noise mitigation also forms a core part of the strategy, recognising its importance for local communities and for maintaining airport growth within sustainable boundaries.

For business travellers who book via Global Travel Management, this means travel through Schiphol is projected to become smoother and more reliable. Longer‐haul travellers may benefit from larger aircraft and more gates, while all travellers stand to gain from enhanced lounges, quicker baggage systems and improved transport links - including a planned new metro line between Amsterdam, Schiphol and Hoofddorp.

As Paul Baker, Sales Director of Global Travel Management, observes:

“These focused investments are precisely the kind of developments that matter to business travellers - shorter connection times, fewer delays, more comfortable terminals and a more sustainable journey overall.”

If you would like further information about flights to or via Schiphol, please contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.