Business Traveller Middle East — October-November 2017

66 I Snapshot

msterdam’s award-

winning airport is

renowned for its single

terminal. Whereas

other major global hubs

have two, three, four or even more

terminals, Schiphol has coped with

one for 50 years.

The advantage for passengers is ease

of connectivity. When the new terminal

opened on the Schiphol airfield in

1967, it was considered a wonder of

the aviation age. So much so that I flew

home from Cologne (where I was at the

time) via Amsterdam to see it for myself.

What set Schiphol apart was that it

was the first European facility specifically

designed for transfer passengers

and shopping. This continues to suit

home airline KLM, as most of its

customers travel through, rather than

to, Amsterdam. It is backed up with six

runways and its own rail station linked

to Europe’s high-speed network. n

New Amsterdam

Schiphol opens

Alex McWhirter looks back at the launch of

Schiphol’s famous single terminal 50 years ago

A

The airport recently unveiled the design for its forthcoming

terminal expansion, which will increase capacity by 14 million

passengers. Scheduled to open in 2023, the new terminal

will adjoin the existing Departure and Arrival Hall 1, allowing

the airport to retain its often-praised single terminal layout.

Designed by Dutch firm KAAN Architecten, the new building

will be the first permanent expansion to the terminal since

1993, when the current Departure Halls 3 and 4, and Arrival

Halls 3 and 4 were built.