Schiphol steps up expansion

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Following the slowdown in civil aviation and September 11 events last year Amsterdam Schiphol airport put on hold a number of construction projects

But Schiphol Group director Marike van Lier Lels last week gave the green light for several major projects to be restarted including a major extension to the Schengen departures lounge and construction of a new pier.

In lounge one, located in the oldest part of the airport at Schiphol Centre which today serves as the Schengen departures area, a new baggage basement will be built and the terminal area will be extended out from 2,500sq m (26,900sq ft) to 14,500sq m (156,020sq ft). The retail and restaurant area on the first floor in lounge one will increase from around 1,600sq m (17,216sq ft) to 6,000sq m (64,560sq ft). The second floor which houses restaurants, rest areas and airline facilities will also be extended. Schiphol said the shopping area layout will be revamped with all shops around a central courtyard. Retail design is being carried out by Benschop and Studio Linse Amsterdam.

Renovation of the existing lounge one concessions is expected to be completed by the end of 2004, with the new lounge scheduled to start operating at the end of 2005. Last year just under 7m passengers departed from lounge one.