Capacity demand at Schiphol Airport

For the future expansion of hub operations at Schiphol, it is important that there is enough available capacity during the arrival and departure peaks. During the most important peaks there is currently virtually no room to grow. Moving leisure flights to Lelystad only offers a limited solution to the capacity shortage during peaks. After all, leisure traffic mostly takes place outside the peaks that are important for hub operations. Operational measures, such as increasing the peak hour capacity and extending the peak periods, can furthermore contribute to creating a grow capacity for future hub operations.

On behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, SEO and To70 have provided insight into the above topics in the accompanying reports for the years 2023 and 2030. This is relevant in light of the public interest the government attaches to the direct intercontinental aviation network at Schiphol. The hub operation is essential for the current scope of the intercontinental aviation network. The study shows what effect moving leisure flights to Lelystad and implementing operational measures can have in order to free up capacity in the arrival and departure peaks that are important for hub operations.

SEO and To70 have compared Schiphol’s flight data for 2017 with the landing and start capacity for the day as determined by the aviation sector (Schiphol, airlines and Dutch Air Traffic Management). In this way, the current utilisation of capacity is clarified. After that, the current flight offer is increased by the expected future economic growth, taking into account the total capacity limit of 500,000 airplane movements at Schiphol up to 2020. Finally, it is clarified for both 2023 and 2030 to what extent moving leisure flights to Lelystad and implementing operational measures contribute to the reduction of capacity use in the arrival and departure peaks.