NETHERLANDS. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol saw its average retail spending per departing passenger fall by -1.2% while F&B posted a healthy rise of +4.2% in the first half of 2018.
Schiphol Group said that post-security retail spend per pax declined from €13.37 (US$15.45) in the first half of 2017 to €13.21 (US$15.26) in the first half of this year. Catering facilities post-security saw spend per pax rise from €4.55 to €4.74 over the period.
The group – which also operates the much smaller airports of Eindhoven, Rotterdam The Hague and Lelystad – did not comment on these differences but said that the overall increase in concession revenue of +4.2% to €99 million (US$114.4 million) was “mainly due to the growth in passenger numbers”.
However, that number failed to keep pace with traffic, which rose +5.5% to 34 million at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol despite the facility having reached its maximum allowed air transport movements (500,000 per year until 1 November 2020). The growth was driven by airlines using larger aircraft and by higher loads.
Other commercial revenue streams had mixed results. Rents and leases increased by +2.8% to €84 million due to an improved real estate occupancy rate, but parking revenue fell slightly by -0.5% as a result of less parking capacity at Schiphol-Centre than in the previous year.
Major revamps at Departure Hall 1 and Departure Lounge 1
Key investments in the first half of 2018 included the development of a new pier and terminal, the redevelopment of Departure Hall 1 and Departure Lounge 1 (started on 3 April) and the expansion of a multi-storey car park.
As part of the Departure Hall 1 and Departure Lounge 1 project, security control will be moved to a mezzanine floor, as in Halls 2 and 3. This allows security lanes to be used more flexibly and creates additional space for passengers heading to Schengen destinations.
President and CEO of Royal Schiphol Group Dick Benschop commented: “Due to the fast growth we have witnessed in recent years it tends to get busy in the terminal, where space has become scarce. I am very pleased, therefore, that construction projects such as for Departures and Lounge 1 and the new pier are in full swing.”
Operating result
The operating result at the Consumer Products & Services division decreased by -3.2% to €98 million euros. The increase in revenue, mainly from concessions, was outpaced by an increase in operating expenses by €7 million. “The increase in costs can be attributed in part to higher costs for parking management,” noted Schiphol Group.
The group’s net result for H1 2018 was €115 million, -2% down on the same period in the previous year (see chart below).
