Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is discussing the future commercial setup at its new pier with a potential tender for retail space among a number of options, TRBusiness understands.

The retail mapping of the new pier – and the timing and structure of any possible tender – has not been finalised, but a decision on a course of direction is expected either this month or in August.

Currently under construction, the new pier spans 55,000sq m over three-storeys and will add eight new gates upon completion.

It expects to be operational at the end of 2019, with work expected to continue into 2023 following the opening of the new terminal.

This will be stationed south of Schiphol Plaza connecting Departure Hall 1 and Arrival Hall A and is on track to open in 2023. The new pier and terminals are set to lift passenger capacity by an additional 14 million.

“There is still a decision to be made on the profile of the passenger using the [new] terminal – a commercial view will be attached to that,” commented Tanja Dik, Director Consumer Products & Services, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. “There will be a different approach depending on whether it is a transfer (terminal) or something else.”

PIER UPGRADES AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

An intense, three-pronged period of infrastructure development is currently underway at the airport, covering the upgrade of Piers D to G, the reconfiguration of Departures 1 and Lounge 1, and the aforementioned construction of the new terminal.

In a recent interview, Schiphol revealed to TRBusiness that work on the piers are progressing ahead of schedule; the four non-Schengen area piers D, E, F and G together with 81 gates are being renovated and redesigned to create 1,700sq m of new commercial space in a transformed zone measuring 70,600sq m.

More comfortable seating areas and clustered retail and F&B spaces, as revealed exclusively by TRBusiness last year, are thrown into the mix in an altered layout that aims to provide a more contemporary and seamless passenger experience. The phased upgrades expect to complete by the end of 2021.

 

Earlier this year, Pier G welcomed new confectionery, tobacco and liquor units operated by Schiphol Airport Retail (SAR) at the gate, with Lagardère Travel Retail inaugurating a new convenience and souvenir shop last month.

New WHSmith units are also expected to open in due course [SAR, Lagardere Travel Retail and WHSmith had previously won a tender to operate all commercial units at the piers].

“Our first pier is almost ready and doing very well,” added Dik. “We’ve had good reactions from our own passengers, which helps, and this is promising for other piers.”

Work on Pier F is ongoing and the expectation is the remaining pier upgrades will complete before the end of 2021, with talk already of bringing forward work on Pier D [originally set to commence in 2019].

Last year, Schiphol Airport’s total revenue from concessions grew by 10% to total €206m ($239m), buoyed by a 7.7% lift in passenger numbers to 68.5m, together with the residual effects of the extensive renovation of the popular Holland Boulevard situated between Lounges 2 and 3.

To read more about the pier upgrade programme, Departure 1 and Lounge 1 renovation and new terminal, see the July issue of TRBusiness, available soon.

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