We have known for a long time that the limits of Schiphol’s growth have been reached, but are ignoring the signals. It is time for a rigorously different course in which it is all about quality instead of quantity, writes our editor-in-chief Rennie Rijpma.
In the book A small country with far-flung corners geographer Floor Milikowski describes how regions in the Netherlands flourish while other areas lag behind. Jobs, capital and highly educated people are concentrated in a number of large cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Eindhoven and Groningen, while the perspective of other regions is lagging behind. Not all cities can make a successful transition from the industrial manufacturing industry of the last century to a flourishing service sector. Remarkably often, success depends on one or a few enthusiastic directors.
Milikowski also describes the success of Schiphol; how the focus on the so-called hub function of our national airport – Schiphol as a hub for people and goods traveling around the world – resulted in a small country like the Netherlands becoming one of the world’s top logistics providers.
Little has been noticed of that logistics world top in recent weeks. Gigantic waiting times, chaos and no guarantee that passengers will make their flight. KLM even restricts the sale of tickets from Schiphol.
Limits reached
It is no surprise that Schiphol’s growth has reached its limits. In 2016, the Council for the Living Environment and Infrastructure will include Main ports beyond all critical comments. In their research TNO and Erasmus University Rotterdam (commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management) From main port to world city port: ,,We conclude that the mainport policy has been very successful. But Dutch society has changed. Brains have become the most important production factor around the mainports.”
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The contribution to the Dutch economy has become substantially smaller, the negative consequences are greater
With its excellent connections, Schiphol was and is of great importance to the business climate for large companies, but a large part of the more than three hundred destinations from Schiphol are now aimed at tourists. The contribution to the Dutch economy has become substantially smaller, the negative consequences are greater.
Senior researcher aviation economics Floris de Haan of Erasmus University knows why the advice and reports about the mainport Schiphol ended up in the drawer; the unassailable position of national airports and national airlines is mainly due to the hint of national pride that hangs around the companies.
It is time for a rigorously different course for Schiphol. A course in which the airport serves to strengthen the Dutch economy; the time of ever more and cheap is over. Quality for quantity. Only then can we be proud of Schiphol again.
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