The incredible airport 80 minutes from the UK set for £10bn facelift | World | News

One of Europe’s major airports is getting a makeover worth £10billion. As well as a new terminal, there will be sustainable design upgrades that will make it a greener and quieter place. Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is the fourth busiest airport in Europe, beaten by London Heathrow (LHR), Istanbul (IST), and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Despite its massive size, it retains its one-terminal layout that makes for easy navigation for passengers. 

Upgrades will mean a new terminal will simply be an extension of this. The airport welcomes close to 66 million passengers per year, and the new South Terminal will help Schiphol deal with this staggering capacity. The new terminal will allow for larger planes to dock in Amsterdam as long-haul air travel becomes more commonplace. Meanwhile, there will be upgraded airport lounges to advance the passenger experience. 

The new terminal will open in phases. A new gate is expected to open by 2027 as part of these new upgrades. However, it will be around the year 2050 when everything is fully complete. 

Sustainability and the environment will be at the forefront of this design, and it aims to reduce carbon emissions and noise pollution. “For more than a century, Schiphol has been a home for world travellers, a hub for goods, and a cornerstone of our economy,” Schiphol CEO Pieter van Oord said.

“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.”

Meanwhile, KLM, the airport’s largest airline, called the new plans a “significant step towards creating a future-proof transport hub and reinforcing its status as a major gateway to Europe”.

“For KLM, the proposed investments in Schiphol, while preserving the unique ‘single terminal concept’, are vital to ensuring the airline can continue to provide excellent service to passengers and maintain strong connections between the Netherlands and the rest of the world,” the airline said in a statement.

“The redevelopment also paves the way for KLM to modernise facilities, including those dedicated to catering and cargo operations.”