Schiphol has made a profit again in the past year and has seen a sharp increase in the number of passengers. Schiphol recorded a profit of 22 million euros in 2023. A year earlier, there was a loss of 77 million euros, partly as a result of staffing problems and additional investments. This became clear on Friday when Schiphol Group’s annual figures were announced. According to Schiphol CEO Ruud Sondag, the profit could have been higher, but the airport has chosen to invest, such as in higher wages, hiring extra security staff to reduce queues and lifting aids to make the work in the baggage halls lighter. The number of passengers also increased. Last year, nearly 62 million passengers flew via Schiphol. This is almost 10 million more than a year earlier, but still lower than before corona, when Schiphol was able to record almost 72 million passengers. Schiphol Group expects the recovery to continue in 2024 with a slight increase in the number of passengers and air movements. “The demand for air travel remains as high as ever, despite the increased ticket prices,” the company reports in its annual report. By 2024, Schiphol expects to facilitate between 460,000 and 483,000 aircraft movements and welcome between 65 and 69 million passengers. In the long term, the development of the number of flights is uncertain due to the intention of the Dutch government to reduce the number of flights, Sondag emphasizes. This is done through a Balanced Approach procedure, which is currently being assessed by the European Commission. Schiphol is part of Royal Schiphol Group, which also includes Eindhoven Airport and Rotterdam The Hague Airport. Schiphol Group handled a total of 70.9 million passengers last year, with 61.9 million for Schiphol, 6.8 million for Eindhoven and 2.2 million for Rotterdam Airport. Schiphol Group’s revenue increased by 24.2 percent to 1.852 million euros (2022: 1,491 million euros). In 2023, Schiphol connected the Netherlands with 305 direct destinations (-3.8 percent compared to 2022), of which 126 were intercontinental (-2.3 percent compared to 2022). Based on the number of direct destinations, Schiphol was the second best-connected airport (ACI Connectivity Report 2023). Schiphol was the fourth best-connected hub airport worldwide in 2023. Ruud Sontag will step down as CEO of Schiphol in two weeks’ time. He will be succeeded as CEO by Pieter van Oord. Sondag had previously announced that he is no longer available due to other commitments made earlier. From 1 March to 1 June, CFO Robert Carsouw will be interim CEO. (Photo Shutterstock).
