Average retail spend per departing passenger – in shops behind security – at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol fell from €14.66 ($16.50) to €13.70 euros (-6.5%) in the first half of the year, says Schiphol Group.

 

This decline is said to be the result of ‘crowdedness in the terminal, changes in consumer behaviour and exchange rate movements’.

 

However, average spend per passenger in food & beverage rose from €5.59 to €5.91 (+5.8%) in the same period.

 

Total revenue from rents and leases increased by 3.4% to €81. “This increase can be attributed largely to a positive trend in rents for office buildings,” said Schiphol Group.

 

 

The number of passengers grew +9.9% to 29.7m at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the first half; the group expects a similar percentage growth for the full year.

 

SCHIPHOL EXPECTS 63M AT AMS IN 2016

“Barring unforeseen circumstances, we expect to be able to welcome over 63m passengers in 2016, an increase of approximately 9%,” says Schiphol Group.

 

Schiphol Group President and CEO Jos Nijhuis, commented: “The strong growth in passenger numbers, to over 63m this year, reflects the strength of Mainport Schiphol. However, this position cannot be taken for granted. The geopolitical and economic climate is uncertain and our competitors are not standing still.

 

“Moreover, the strong growth in passenger numbers means that Schiphol is reaching the limits of its capacity and that quality is under pressure. Unfortunately this is sometimes noticeable to passengers.

 

“In order to continue providing optimal services to passengers and airlines in the future and secure our position, we will substantially increase investments in capacity expansion, quality and accessibility, from €400m-€600m per year, on average, over the next years.”

 

‘AREA A’ APPROVED

In March 2016, the shareholders of Schiphol Group approved the development and construction of a new terminal and pier at Schiphol – ‘Area A’ – that will lay the foundation for capacity growth at Schiphol in the longer term.

 

 

On 1 May the group sold 60% of the shares in SAR (Schiphol Airport Retail) and as a result Amsterdam Airport Schiphol no longer registers revenue from retail sales.

 

The results from the remaining 40% stake in SAR are accounted for as a share in the results of ‘associates’.

 

Schiphol Group’s total revenue rose to €687m ($775.6m) in the first half of this year up slightly from €684m in HY2015. The effect of the increase in passenger numbers on revenue (+9.9% to 29.7m at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol) was apparently offset by an 11.6% reduction in airport charges as of 1 April 2016.

 

‘Other income’ and ‘fair value gains’ on investment property decreased from €84m in HY 2015 to €15m HY 2016. The decrease in ‘other income’ was caused by the one-off result on the sale of a 60% stake in Schiphol Airport Retail (‘SAR’) of €50m in 2015.

 

LELYSTAD PLANS DEVELOP

In other developments for Schiphol Group, in June this year Lelystad Airport (in the Netherlands) awarded contracts for the construction of a new terminal and integrated services for the airport.

 

Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2017. The first passengers are expected to depart from the new leisure airport in the course of 2018.

 

MANAGEMENT CHANGES

Mr Van den Berg was appointed Chief Commercial Officer and member of the Management Board of Schiphol Group with effect from 1 April. He is taking over from Mr De Groof, who left Schiphol Group on that date.

 

With effect from 1 May, De Groot was reappointed as Chief Financial Officer and member of the Management Board of Schiphol Group for a second four-year term.

 

Nijhuis’ term as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Management Board of Schiphol Group will be extended by two years, and will expire on 1

January 2019.