Amsterdam airport expansion delayed amid budget increase

Contractor BAM will complete the construction of the pier in the coming years (Photo: Schipol Airport)

Contractor BAM will complete the construction of the pier in the coming years.

The total cost of Pier A has increased to €1.4 billion primarily due to repair work, delays, and a longer project duration. This amount is based on the current schedule and scope. Schiphol believes the chance of further postponement or budget overrun is minimal.

Sybren Hahn, executive director of Schiphol Infrastructure, said, “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.”

After preparation and repair works, BAM and its subcontractors are continuing with the construction of Pier A. Schiphol and BAM is aiming to complete Pier A by December 2026.

The current schedule includes periods to account for any delays or unforeseen situations. Up to now, BAM, together with Heijmans, VolkerWessels Infra Schiphol, and other parties, have addressed numerous quality defects.

For instance, the fire-resistant coating for the steel beams was found to be significantly damaged by weather influences, requiring BAM to replace the coating on approximately 18 kilometres of steel beams.