Amsterdam Airport Schiphol drops out of Top 10 of International Airports

Amsterdam, Aug. 19, 2009 — Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has dropped out of the Top 10 of International Airports.

From 2001 through 2006 Schiphol ranked ninth on a list of the world’s busiest airports — a ranking drawn up by Geneva-based Airports Council International (ACI), which tracks airport traffic worldwide.

An analysis by Het Financieël Dagblad, a Dutch financial daily, shows that based on ACI’s 2008 figures, Schiphol airport has dropped to fourteenth place. The organization’s latest figures, for April 2009, shows a further downward trend, ranking Amsterdam’s airport at nineteen.

Schiphol airport is considered of vital importance to the Netherlands’ competitive position. It also plays a huge role in Holland’s abibility to attract international companies.

As the Netherlands does not provide a large home market the airport relies on transfer passengers.

A Schiphol spokesperson said that the company does not worry much about a top ten position, but rather emphasizes quality and the retention of its network.

After Frankfurt, Schiphol offers the highest number of destinations — some 260 throughout the world.

Causes

Analysts believe the airport’s network function is under pressure due to consolidations between airlines as well as the ongoing liberalisation of the market.

Schiphol suggests factors such as the 9/11 attacks, and the ticket tax are to blame. [See: Ticket tax has resulted in lasting damage for Amsterdam airport, others]

Award-winning airport

Schiphol’s emphasis on quality consistently pays off in customer satisfaction.

Last July Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has, for the second year in a row, been honoured with Executive Travel Magazine’s ‘Leading Edge Award’. Readers of this US magazine, published by the business travel division of American Express, voted Schiphol as best international airport based on qualities including leadership, customer orientation and vision.

This year Schiphol also receive the ‘ACI Europe Best Airport award’ in recognition of its high standard of quality and, more especially, its approach to building relationships with regional residents.

At the end of June, Canadian travel agents elected Amsterdam Airport Schiphol their ‘Favourite International Airport 2009’, with over 3,500 Canadian travel agents participating in the vote.

In April, readers of the Asian cargo industry publication Cargonews Asia voted Amsterdam Airport Schiphol ‘Best Airport Europe’ for the 16th time and ‘Best Air Cargo Terminal Europe’ for the 11th time. The awards were based on the high quality of airport cargo facilities and efficient cargo transfer process.

And in February Schiphol.nl won first prize in the category ‘Best Airport Website’ in the ‘Webbie Aviation Awards’ organised by Flightglobal.com – the joint website maintained by several leading international aviation sector journals. — DutchAmsterdam.nl. Sources: Financieel Dagblad, Schiphol Airport, Airports Council International