Schiphol Airport Faces Criticism Amid Massive Investment for Upgrades

Last year, a remarkable 4.5 billion people traveled by air as the airline industry continued its recovery following the Covid pandemic. Among these, approximately 61.7 million passengers passed through Schiphol Airport, the principal international airport in the Netherlands, which ranked as the third busiest globally for international passenger traffic in 2023. Originally established as a military airbase in September 1916, it began commercial flight operations at the conclusion of World War I.

Recently, some travelers have voiced their dissatisfaction with Schiphol's facilities. One such reviewer, P Bartez from the Netherlands, expressed frustration regarding the airport's cleanliness and cramped atmosphere during their summer visit. Bartez noted on SKYTRAX that despite the high passenger volume, the airport felt too small and criticized the lack of adequate toilets, healthy food options, and family-friendly spaces, ultimately stating that if it weren't for KLM's numerous direct flights, they would have avoided the airport altogether.

In light of this feedback, Schiphol Airport plans to tackle these issues through substantial improvements over the coming years. In August, airport management revealed a significant investment of £4.96 billion (€6 billion) aimed at upgrading various aspects of the airport's facilities. This investment represents the largest in the airport's history and seeks to fundamentally enhance its infrastructure, working conditions, and passenger services.