The $3BN Plan to Fix Europe's Most Important Airport

Video hosted and narrated by Fred Mills. This video contains paid promotion for Brilliant.

It’s no secret the Dutch are big fans of biking culture. But there’s another mode of transit holding the ultimate boarding pass in the city’s capital.

With over 62M passengers in 2023, Schiphol Airport ranks as one Europe’s busiest hubs.

This is largely thanks to its centralised location and historical ties to long-haul destinations in other parts of the world. For decades, it was considered one of the region’s top travel hubs. But in recent years, its reputation has faced quite a bit of turbulence. And many haven’t been happy with their experience. 

Now, the airport is looking to redeem itself by investing over $3BN on construction projects. From enhanced passenger amenities, to an impressive dual taxiway, Amsterdam wants to redefine the travel experience.

But in the middle of a live airport with thousands of people and flights daily, this is no easy task. So buckle up - here’s how Amsterdam is upgrading to first class on one of Europe's most hated airports.

Opening all the way back in 1916, Schiphol Airport was initially a small military airfield. But it didn’t take long to grow in size. By the next year, it was already one the largest airports in Europe. For the next couple of decades, it steadily continued growing. That is until the outbreak of World War II. The airport became a frequent target of German bombings and by the end, Schiphol lay in ruins - forcing Amsterdam to rebuild.

Fast forward to today. The airport boasts a total of six runways and a main terminal that’s divided into three zones, each with separate piers and gates.

For years, Schiphol has topped the list of the world’s best airports - loved by passengers and airlines alike. As a frequent spot for layovers, it’s been known for its navigable layout. And with over 300 direct flight paths offered around the world, it's the top connected European airport.

Then came the summer of 2022.

Largely due to labour shortages following the pandemic, the airport was plagued with hours-long security queues, lost baggage claims, delays, and frustrated travellers. At one point, it had to introduce capacity caps in order to keep up with demand.

As a result, the airport’s world ranking plummeted down fourteen spots to the 29th spot in 2023. Even officials admitted its ‘poor’ performance that year. 

Above: Article from Semafor reporting on Amsterdam Airport in 2022

With a tarnished image, Schiphol is looking to steer things around with a goal for focusing on quality over quantity.

To do this, the airport is spending over $3BN in improvements and upgrades. All of which will help handle increased capacity - which will ease queues and smooth passenger experience. Some of the key projects include a brand new pier, enhanced lounge areas, and the completion of a system known as dual taxiway. Here’s how the airport is navigating the construction.

Now as we said before, Schiphol is designed as a singular terminal layout. It is connected to eight separate piers each with several gates.

Soon, there will be a brand new pier - which has been steadily progressing so far. At 370 metres long and 40 metres wide, there will be new shops, security, and border control across three floors of space.

So far, construction has faced some delays due to contract disputes but has still seen some progress.

When complete, Pier A will provide seven additional gates. Four for narrow-body planes, and three for wider plane designs. More gates means more flights will be able to pass through. And by implementing a combination of solar panels, biomaterials and a glass facade, the roof and overall design will be eco-friendly.

Also included in the investment is the enhanced lounge 1. At nearly 20 years old, the area is a bit outdated and is in need of a fresh new look. 

Above: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol's New Design Render

To do this, over 24,000 square metres will be redesigned, including transforming a previous crewmember area. Instead, this will create an additional 5,000 square metres of space with 23 new retail, food, and drink spots for passengers to enjoy.

Despite ongoing construction, the parts of the lounge will remain accessible for current passengers. Which of course with so many people always passing through, will be a bit tricky to navigate. So to minimise the impact, the project will be completed in phases and will take place mostly overnight.

Perhaps one of the most complex and ambitious parts of Amsterdam’s update is the completion of the dual taxiway system. Right now, the main terminal is surrounded by two-lane taxiways that planes use to come and go. The inner circle moves clockwise, while the other flows counter-clockwise. Together they nearly form a ring.

However, the circle remains incomplete between this section. Here, planes must instead use a single-lane taxiway which occasionally creates a bit of a backup causing unnecessary congestion and delays. But that’s all about to change. When fully complete, the dual taxiway will connect the existing sections via an additional aircraft bridge over the A4 motorway. Some of which have been completed already.

That’s right - Amsterdam has built a bridge strong enough to carry an entire plane over one of the country’s busiest roadways. The new bridge stretches 250 metres long and 60 metres high. And while airport bridges are not exactly new, they’re still an impressive feat of engineering.  

Above: Taxiway Over The A14 At Leipzig Airport

A big bridge calls for a big space, and several buildings in the vicinity needed to be demolished and cleared.

Over 350K tonnes of sand were deposited along the motorway to elevate existing taxiways to the same level as the new bridge. This sand prevents asphalt from cracking once it’s laid. To support both an aeroplane and the 32M kilogram bridge itself, a strong foundation is a must. Workers drove 900 piles into the ground which will act as the base for the concrete platform.

This requires formwork - which is a bit like creating a giant mold with reinforcements and concrete. Once it takes time to properly set, the formwork is removed and the concrete foundations remain. And to ensure the bridge will be properly supported by it, the formwork had to be installed at various spots across the construction.

All this work required temporary road closures and mostly be done at night to minimise impact on airport and traffic operations. 

These projects aren’t the only improvements Schiphol is working on. Other highlights include a revamping on the existing Pier C, a brand new baggage hall, and the renewal of structures like passenger walkways and bridges. All of which are expected to reach completion by 2027.

Amidst these logical challenges, the evolution of Schiphol Airport throughout the decades reflects its commitment to innovation and resilience. From its beginning as a small military airfield, to becoming one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs for some time, the airport has soared to new heights.

And despite recent challenges, it remains dedicated to restoring itself as one of the top world airports.

With over $3BN in upgrades, Schiphol is ascending into a brighter future for aviation. From the construction of a new pier, to the completion of a dual taxiway system, the airport’s ambitious projects cater towards an improved traveller and airline experience alike.

Through careful planning and navigation of construction challenges, it continues to shape the future of air travel, ensuring seamless journeys for passengers worldwide.

This video contains paid promotion for Brilliant. To try everything Brilliant has to offer for free for a full 30 days, visit brilliant.org/TheB1M or click on the link in the description. You’ll also get 20% off an annual premium subscription.

Video narrated by Fred Mills. Additional footage and images courtesy of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Amsterdam City Archive.

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