If you travel regularly, you’ll have a favourite airport. Maybe it has efficient security queues, or has your favourite fast-food place. Or perhaps you appreciate an airport that is always working to be better – if that’s the case, let us introduce you to the new-look Amsterdam Schiphol.
Okay, Schiphol hasn’t actually undergone any extensive renovations yet, but it has huge plans. €10 billion worth of them.
The airport, which is the third biggest in Europe, announced its masterplan last week. It includes improved public transport to and from the airport, including a proposed new metro line linking Amsterdam, Schiphol and the town of Hoofddorp, and better roads for the surrounding area. The biggest change, however, is the addition of a whole new terminal.
Terminal South will ease congestion for the nearly 66 million people who use the airport every year, and provide new space for larger planes to dock. It will also allow for upgraded infrastructure inside the terminal building, such as modernised lounges and more food and drink options. Plus, it won’t just be passengers who benefit – the airport has also pledged to improve working conditions for staff.
Sustainability is at the forefront of this makeover. The airport wants to cut carbon emissions by 90 percent by 2030, and will do this by electrifying ground vehicles, expanding upon the use of clean energy sources in its terminals, and ensuring that any new buildings meet very high environmental standards. It’s also trying to reduce noise pollution by welcoming more companies with quieter aircrafts.
It’s going to take a long time to make all of this happen. It won’t be until 2050 that everything is completely up and running, but it’s hoped that the first stage – a new departure gate – will be open by 2027.
Schiphol’s CEO, Pieter van Oord, said that he hopes these upgrades ensure the airport remains ‘a home for world travellers, a hub for goods and a cornerstone of our economy’ for years to come.
‘Our future can be summed up in two words’, he added; ‘quality and balance’.
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