Airport News
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide a €200m loan to Schiphol Group to finance the significant transformation of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The loan will be used to improve passenger experience at the airport through the construction of a central security screening facility, ending the need for individual security checks at each gate in the terminal.
The loan agreement was signed at Schiphol Airport by Els de Groot, executive vice president and CFO of Schiphol Group, and EIB vice president, responsible for the Netherlands, Pim van Ballekom.
Els de Groot said, “We welcome the EIB's continued support for our airport investments, following successful funding by the EIB in the last decade of other important Schiphol projects including the fifth runway and the 70 MB baggage system programme. To remain Europe's preferred airport we will invest an additional €500m in the coming years. An important part of this is directly related to creation of a central security facility for the entire terminal. Gate security checks for flights to non-Schengen destinations will disappear and be replaced by five central security filters. This will both improve passenger comfort and significantly enhance the efficiency of the passenger handling process for both the airport and airlines”.
EIB’s Pim van Ballekom added, “As Europe’s fourth largest airport Schiphol is a crucial passenger gateway and transport link. The EIB is pleased to support the airport’s long-term investment programme essential for compliance with future international security standards, improving the experience and comfort of passengers, enhancing airport efficiency, and improving punctuality. This transformation will create hundreds of construction jobs and help make travelling through Schiphol easier.”
The Schiphol airport capital investment programme, supported by the 20-year EIB loan, will allow design and construction of a central security area for non-Schengen passengers. This will separate arriving passengers from departing passengers, remove security screening at gates and include a new mezzanine floor above check-in for security checks. The scheme will redevelop the terminal building to improve passenger facilities and allow connecting passengers to be checked more efficiently and is expected to significantly improve the punctuality of flights.
Project preparation started in 2012 to ensure minimal disruption of airport users during the construction phase and building works are expected to be completed by mid-2015. The EIB loan will be disbursed to reflect progress of the project.
