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Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

As Maarten de Groof, the Schiphol Group’s head of commercial development for the airport explains, the keys to this are, "Connectivity and experience. An airport is like a modern city. Above all, it’s a meeting place for people and businesses in motion."

Staying experience

Schiphol has always been a trendsetter in air transport. Its ‘one terminal’ concept has been much praised, and helped to make it Europe’s third most popular airport choice. In 2008, business travellers again voted Schiphol their favourite airport.

But increasing competition means Schiphol is keen to keep innovating. One aspect of this is ensuring that passengers are offered a ‘staying experience.’ So there’s a wide selection of carefully chosen shops and cafes both before and after passport control.

Income from these concessions can be invested in other areas to increase Schiphol’s attractions. For example, regular business travellers to Schiphol can now opt for biometric identification. Thanks to an iris scan, they can speed their way through the airport.

Business complex

Schiphol is also an attractive business base. At the end of 2007, there were already some 596 businesses active in the area. Today, companies include many logistics firms, but also service providers and even international head offices. “Citigroup has set up its European headquarters here, and Microsoft has just moved into an ultramodern building,” says Maarten De Groof.

Companies like these are part of Schiphol’s economic motor, which generates 2% of the GDP, or €8 billion, every year. The Schiphol cluster currently provides 60,000 jobs. The airport is keen to develop this larger economic role. It actively seeks partners for Schiphol-based companies in order to strengthen its activity base. Clearly, this airport city still has ambitions to grow.

Exporting Schiphol know-how

The Schiphol Group’s expertise has become an important export product. Schiphol USA Inc. has a share in JFK IAT, which operates Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy Airport, New York. Schiphol Australia has a share in Brisbane Airport Corporation, the operator of Brisbane Airport. The Schiphol Group’s Dutch portfolio consists of Schiphol, Rotterdam Airport, Lelystad Airport and a share in Eindhoven Airport. It also develops commercial real estate in several airports (including Milan). It exchanges knowledge with various partners, including Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport.

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Photo: Rahi Rezvani