The main airport of the Netherlands, - which is one of the major hubs of the international transfers - wants to infrastructure and passenger services over the next half-decade in a move that has been called the "the biggest investment plan in the airport's history".

Schiphol CEO Pieter van Oord said: "Our infrastructure is the foundation of our service, but is currently far from what we want to offer our passengers as a quality airport in the Netherlands."

This will include "major" works at Pier C, the baggage basement, upgrades to climate-control systems, escalators, aircraft stands and taxiways as well as the ongoing Pier A project.4

The announcement comes amid an 11 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger numbers throughout the first half of 2024, whilst capacity also increased 12 per cent year on year with 230,417 flights recorded between January and the end of June.

In 2023, the hub welcomed more than five million passengers in 2022 but announced that charges will increase by 14.8 per cent in 2024, higher than the 12 per cent rise that was previously anticipated. Schiphol CFO Robert Carsouw said in a statement: “We've notified the airlines and understand that they're not very pleased. At the same time, it's necessary for the quality at Schiphol and for our financial position. It's also how the legislation works. In good years we are not allowed to profit from airport charges and so in bad years we cannot afford any losses.” The airport - which did acknowledge that the charges paid to them by airlines are "strictly regulated by legislation" and cover costs such as runway maintenance, security and cleaning. The CFO added: "Simply put, Schiphol is not permitted to make any profit from airport charges. If what Schiphol earns in airport charges exceeds the costs incurred from facilitating the airlines, the additional revenue is 'given back' to the airlines