Schiphol Action Programme Schiphol Action Programme 2 | Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment / Ministry of Economic Affairs Contents 1. Introduction – Why an Action Programme? 5 1.1 Joining forces to strengthen the position of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 5 1.2 Prospects for growth 6 1.3 Principles 7 2. Point of departure: the facts 8 2.1 Economic importance 8 2.2 Strong position 9 2.3 Challenges 11 2.4 Importance of collaboration 12 3. Strengthening the flight network and boosting the economy 13 3.1 Aviation policy 13 3.2 Improving air cargo processes 15 3.3 Business climate in the Netherlands and the Holland brand 16 4. Towards a competitive cost level 18 4.1 Cost reduction by the aviation sector 19 4.2 Focus on further cost-cutting measures 20 5. Improving rail and road accessibility of Schiphol Airport 26 5.1 Improving public transport 26 5.2 Improving the road network 29 6. Working towards innovative and sustainable aviation 31 6.1 Innovation 31 6.2 Sustainability 32 6.3 Environmental quality 34 7. Providing scope for a growing airport 36 7.1 Environmental capacity 36 7.2 Operational capacity of Schiphol Airport 40 7.3 Capacity for security and border control 40 7.4 Airspace capacity 42 8. Balancing habitation and aviation 45 8.1 Short term 45 8.2 Medium to long term 48 9. Conclusion 50 Colophon 52 Schiphol Action Programme | 3 Photo: Rijksoverheid Mediatheek 4 | Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment / Ministry of Economic Affairs 1. Introduction – Why an Action Programme? 1.1 Joining forces to strengthen the position of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol The aviation sector is something the Netherlands can be truly proud of, especially this year as Schiphol Airport marks its 100th anniversary. What began as four wooden hangars in a field has grown to become one of the largest and most modern airports in the world – an airport with an extremely extensive network of flight connections, in which hub carrier KLM plays a significant part. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is indispensable to the national economy. In direct terms, it accounts for more than 100,000 jobs. Indirectly it accounts for many more jobs as the international hub for people, trade and knowledge. Apart from these figures, many people feel closely attached to Schiphol Airport. The same is true for the hub carrier KLM. Both have long histories and are strong brands that shaped and are part of the Dutch identity. This is why discussions about their future concern more than just the business aspects. The current position of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is strong, but its future is less certain. The development of the Asian market and the rise of the Gulf States have brought about a change in dynamics within inter- national aviation. Large new airline companies have entered the market, as have new hub airports outside Europe. Budget air carriers are also on the rise and there is now fierce competition on the European routes. The Dutch government aims to further strengthen the already strong position of Schiphol Airport. Other parties are demanding the same. This will require close collaboration between all parties involved. In this Action Programme, we therefore explore the opportunities and threats that exist for this major transport hub and indicate what measures the national government, the aviation sector and other parties are taking to answer the most important questions of the moment. How do we maintain and improve our connections with the rest of the world? How do we deal with the growing volume of air traffic, both in the air and on the ground? How can we keep the costs competitive? How can we promote sustainability and innovation? What Schiphol Action Programme | 5 perspective can we give for the construction of new homes in the region around Schiphol Airport as it relates to the airport’s further development? 1.2 Prospects for growth In a rapidly changing global economy, it is essential for the Netherlands and the Dutch business community to uphold their competitive position. The development and growth of the economy form the basis for employment, prosperity and services in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is home to numerous companies and sectors that operate and export goods and services worldwide owing to the country’s favourable location, a good business climate, and a highly educated population. International accessibility for people and goods is crucial to strengthening and facilitating the economy. The aviation industry makes a significant contribution to providing this intercontinental and European accessibility and, in so doing, helps to ensure that the Netherlands is and remains an attractive business location for international companies. Via international air travel connections, the Netherlands continues to be connected to the world’s most important current and new economic centres. These air connections also enable organisations in the Netherlands to be active, do business, make investments and exchange knowledge – from business services to logistics, from high tech to the creative industries. Individual consumers, too, can travel the world via these international flight connections. International flight connections in the Netherlands are primarily provided via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, with subsidiary links to Eindhoven Airport and, from 2018, Lelystad Airport. As an international hub, Schiphol Airport brings in a large volume of international economic activity. This means that the airport and the economic activities linked to it function as one of the key engines driving the Dutch economy. The Dutch government recognises the great potential that Schiphol Airport has for the Dutch economy. To further expand this potential, it is crucial to keep this major airport competitive, particularly in view of the fact that the importance of aviation will only increase in the years to come. It is primarily the responsibility of the Dutch aviation sector to meet this competition head on. The government sees it as its own responsibility to create the best conditions in which a strong major airport can thrive. Among other things, this means that the aviation sector must be given the space to grow in the Netherlands, now and in the future. The demand for air transport to and from the Netherlands, and specifically at Schiphol Airport, will only increase in the years ahead. This expectation can be found, amongst other places, in the study entitled Exploring the Future of Prosperity and the Living Environment (Toekomstverkenning Welvaart en Leefomgeving), which was conducted in 2015 by the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (Centraal Planbureau - CPB) and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving - PBL). The study entitled Exploring Market Developments in Aviation (Verkenning Marktontwikkelingen Luchtvaart) – which was conducted in 2014 by the aviation parties in the Schiphol Airport Environment Council (Omgevingsraad Schiphol) – and forecasts by Schiphol Airport also assume that there will be an increase in demand for air transport. Based on analyses conducted by the aviation sector, it is forecast that the number of aircraft movements at Schiphol will increase by between 1.5% and 2.2% per annum. The forecast presented in the Exploring the Future of Prosperity and the Living Environment study is even higher. The government wants to accommodate this growing demand in the Netherlands, more specifically at the airports Schiphol, Lelystad and Eindhoven. Of course this should occur in balance with the surrounding environment and within the frameworks set for safety and sustainability. We will take up the challenge to make this possible, in order to ensure that Schiphol Airport can continue to compete with existing airports in Europe and new airports in Turkey and the Gulf States in the future. Decisions have already been taken on this for the short term. For the (medium to) long term, we would like to work with the aviation sector and other parties involved to come up with an intelligent approach to the issue of expansion that will stand the test of time. 6 | Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment / Ministry of Economic Affairs 1.3 Principles To a large degree, our policy is and will continue to be based on the Aviation Policy Memorandum (Luchtvaartnota). This Schiphol Action Programme is an appendix to this memorandum. Ongoing actions have been mapped out and supplemented with new actions. This creates an up-to-date integral overview of what the national government and the aviation sector are doing to bolster the competitive position of Schiphol Airport. To create the Action Programme, we consulted the aviation sector and a range of other parties, including regional governments, employers, environmental organisations and residents. Brainstorming sessions were also held with aviation experts. Coming up with a single Action Programme in the face of all the different perspectives and visions is a complex and challenging process. However, we must not allow this complexity to paralyse us. Our focus must be on creating the best conditions for a strong major airport: when possible, we steer this effort in the right direction, in order to allow the Netherlands to continue to reap the benefits of a well-run Schiphol Airport, an extensive network of flight destinations, and the opportunities that international aviation has to offer. This is the focus of this Action Programme. Schiphol Action Programme | 7 2. Point of departure: the facts 2.1 Economic importance Amsterdam Airport Schiphol makes a substantial