The Schiphol Group achieved a first half net profit (excluding capital gains on investment property) of E72.5m, or 1.9% less than the net result for the corresponding period in 2004 (E74m). Including capital gains on

investment property, the net result (attributable to shareholders) for the first half of 2005 amounted to E76.9m.
These results follow the June 30 passing of the government bill to sell off a minority interest in the Schiphol Group, although how this will be achieved, via a trade sale or via a stock market flotation, is still to be decided.
Meanwhile, the number of passengers using Amsterdam Airport Schiphol rose by 3.2% in the first half of 2005 and cargo tonnage was up by 3.0%. The increase is slightly less than the forecast for the whole of 2005, as published in the 2004 Annual Report.
New security measures and higher insurance premiums caused security costs to rise by E19.5m to E82.2m in the period.