Royal Schiphol Group NV

04/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/07/2024 17:32

Clarity on progress of Pier A: ready in 2027

04
July
2024
|
12:29
Europe/Amsterdam

Clarity on progress of Pier A: ready in 2027

Summary

Schiphol expects to start using the new Pier A in April 2027. BAM will complete the construction of the pier in the coming years. Working closely together, Schiphol and BAM have devoted considerable attention to a very precise schedule. On that basis, Schiphol can provide more clarity on the progress of construction and costs. The total cost of Pier A has increased, primarily due to repair work, delays and a longer project duration, to 1.393 million euros. With the additional square metres, spacious layout, sustainable features, new facilities and gates, Pier A provides the extra quality and comfort that Schiphol wants to offer passengers and airlines.

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We are pleased that we can now confidently look ahead to a new completion date. The complicated Pier A project clearly went far from smoothly under the previous contractor. Delays, quality issues and a legal conflict - none of that helped progress. We will get the keys to the new Pier A in December 2026, after which we'll conduct operational testing of the new systems and hundreds of colleagues and airport partners will learn how to work in the new environment. Then, in April 2027, we will open the doors to passengers and airlines. A lot still needs to be done before then. Together with BAM, we're putting our shoulders to the wheel.

Sybren Hahn, Executive Director Schiphol Infrastructure
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Construction until early 2027
After thorough preparation and extensive repair works, BAM and its subcontractors are vigorously continuing with the construction of Pier A. Schiphol and BAM are eager to have Pier A finished by December 2026. The current schedule is highly precise and includes buffer periods (all weekends and holidays) to catch up on any delays or deal with unforeseen situations. In the period to date, BAM, together with Heijmans, VolkerWessels Infra Schiphol and other parties, has resolved many quality defects. For example, the fire-resistant coating for the steel beams turned out to be so damaged by weather influences that BAM had to replace the coating on approximately 18 kilometres of steel beams.

Total cost
The total cost of the Pier A project has increased, primarily due to repair works, delays and a longer project duration, to 1.393 million euros. That's the total amount based on the current schedule and scope. Schiphol considers the chance of further postponement or budget overrun to be minimal thanks to BAM's thorough preparation, in which we have every confidence. Schiphol's shareholders have agreed to increase the 2021 budget by almost 300 million euros.

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We're building a top-quality pier, paying close attention to every euro spent. We're currently in discussions with the airlines about the new airport charges and investments for the coming years, including Pier A. There are understandably questions about this among the airlines and we will therefore provide more insight into the project in those discussions and explain how Schiphol intends to deal with costs. It's good to emphasise that the impact of individual projects on the charges is very limited. This also applies to the total cost of the Pier A project, that we'll incorporate into the charges after commissioning in 2027.

Robert Carsouw, CFO
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The new Pier A
Pier A is an important pillar in the additional quality and comfort that Schiphol wants to offer passengers and airlines. The extra square metres and eight gates, including three for the largest aircraft, are crucial to meet current and future peak demand, in terms of passenger flow, aircraft stands and fleet renewal. Pier A is vital for the future of the airport, creating the space to replace, renew and make existing airport infrastructure more sustainable in the long run.

The new pier, measuring 55,000 square metres, almost resembles a terminal. It will have security filters, border controls, shops, and food and drink facilities. With three floors, it'll be possible to keep travellers with different border and security statuses separate. During construction, Schiphol is adhering to its sustainability objectives and to the LEED Gold standard, so that Pier A will be the airport's most sustainable pier.