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Schiphol eyes 41m passengers

DUBAI - Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which provides essential infrastructure to support regional, social and economic growth, expects its passenger throughput by end 2004 to be approximately 41 million, a modest increase of 2.76 per cent from the 39.9 million passengers in 2003.

In an interview with Khaleej Times during the Airport Cities Conference which concluded on Tuesday, Frits Kuipers, Senior Manager, Consumer International at Schiphol Group, and key speaker at the conference, said that the airport's passenger throughput in 2002 was a little over 40 million.

The reason for the decline in passenger throughput in 2003 as compared to 2002, he explained, was the effect of the economic downsizing or recession that had gripped most economies around the world and which is currently taking place globally, though there are signs of a recovery during the latter part of this year.

"People are afraid of what's happening around the world in terms of terrorist attacks. We have also seen that people are more careful with their money and are reluctant to spend that much, with most of them keeping preferring to their stash away their hard earned savings for a better day. 'Let's wait for better times' seems to be the lines on which they are thinking for the moment," he maintained.

Mr Kuipers, who is involved in internationalising of Schiphol's Airport City concept at international airports, primarily Europe and North America, mainly through management and development contracts, hailed the impressive development of Dubai and its international airport.

"I love it, and I think Dubai is doing a perfect job in further developing their airport city. When I came here which was about a year ago, I was so surprised to see what has been built and all the cities around it. I'm pretty thrilled being here," he said.

The Airport Cities Conference has been held for the second time in Dubai, and has been co-sponsored by the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Emirates airline. Dubai International Airport is a prime example of an Airport City.

Commenting on the Airport Cities Conference, he said: "It is important because people are telling a lot of news about what's happening in their world. If you had listened to what Hong Kong was saying and what we were saying, for example, one can learn and share from each other."

The emergence of the airport city is a relatively new development, and can take different forms depending on variables such as the physical location of the airport, or the economic goals of the management team. Through a series of industry case studies, air operators will understand from other airport operators how they had successfully developed their airport city, gain a better understanding of the way in which the development, real estate, hotel and financial communities function and think, among other benefits.

The Schiphol Group views an airport as an airport city - a dynamic hub integrating people and companies, logistics and shops, information and entertainment. The Group's international activities include JFK Airport Terminal, Brisbane Airport, Stockholm Arlanda Airport and Tradeport Hong Kong.

Some 93 airlines operate into Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the gateway of the Netherlands, with a high contribution to the gross domestic product, valued at five billion euros and is responsible for about 120,000 direct and indirect jobs.

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