Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) Information

Where is Amsterdam Schiphol Airport?  

AMS Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (IATA: AMS, ICAO: EHAM) is the Netherlands' main airport, located 20 minutes (9.1 kilometres; 5.6 miles) southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer. The airport's official English name, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, places the words in the Dutch order (Luchthaven Schiphol) instead of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The airport used to have the IATA code of SPL, which has fallen into disuse and has been replaced by AMS.

The Schiphol Airport is built as one large terminal, split into three large departure halls, which converge again once airside. The most recent of these was completed in 1994, and expanded in 2007 with a new part, named Terminal 4, although this part is not recognized as a separate building. Plans for further terminal expansion exist, including the construction of a separate new terminal between the Zwanenburgbaan and Polderbaan runways that would end the one-terminal concept.

Schiphol is an important European airport, ranking as Europe’s 4th busiest and the world's 12th busiest by total passenger traffic. It also ranks as the world’s 6th busiest by international passenger traffic and the world’s 17th largest for cargo tonnage. 49.8 million passengers passed through the airport in 2011, a 10% increase compared with 2010.

Because of intense traffic and high landing fees, some low cost carriers decided to move their flights to smaller airports, such as Rotterdam and Eindhoven. Many low cost carriers (like easyJet, SkyEurope, and Bmibaby) continue to operate from Schiphol, using the low-cost H-pier.

Schiphol Airport is the home base of KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines), Arkefly, Martinair and Transavia.com, and a hub for Northwest Airlines in cooperation with KLM.

Services at the Schiphol Airport include:

• Privium services for frequent fliers with membership
• Exchange Avenue conference facilities - 3rd floor above Departures 1
• Airport Business Point (a waiting lounge to have a meeting or or meet up with your driver) - Arrivals Hall 2
• Meet and Assist services
• Shower rooms at Hotel Mercure Schiphol Terminal
• Sheraton Fitness & Spa (open 24 hours) - Plaza Schiphol
• Rituals Spa - Lounge 1
• XpresSpa - 3 locations
• Back-to-Life Centre (oxygen bar available) - Holland Boulevard
• Airport Library (complete with books and newspapers)
• Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol (see a Rembrandt!) - Holland Boulevard
• Casino - Holland Boulevard
• Medical services and pharmacy
• Meditation silence centre - Holland Boulevard
• Panorama viewing terrace - outside (09:00 - 17:00)
• Kids Forest - Holland Boulevard
• XD Theatre (ages 5 and up) - Lounge 2
• Panoramic Amsterdam City Tour - operates from AMS, perfect for a layover

• Official AMS Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Website    

• Read AMS Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Tweets