Runway availability: Runway maintenance and works

To keep the six runways and the taxiways at Schiphol safe and in good condition, we regularly perform maintenance and other works on and around them. The runways are often unavailable for air traffic while the works are being carried out. Deploying other runways means that there will be consequences for runway use and air traffic. And this can mean that you, as our neighbour, see and hear more or fewer aircraft overhead. On this page you can see what works are being done and which runways have limited or no availability. Dates may change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Runway maintenance and works in 2024

4 September 2023 – 18 February 2024: Kaagbaan unavailable for landing at times of limited visibility

As a result of the construction of dual taxiways, the Kaagbaan Runway will be unavailable for landing at times of poor visibility – such as when there is fog or low cloud – from 4 September 2023 to 18 February 2024. The runway can continue to be used for take-off in all visibility conditions. And when visibility is good, landing will be possible. When visibility is limited and there’s a northerly wind, the Aalsmeerbaan Runway can be deployed for landing during the day. The Zwanenburgbaan Runway will be available for landing at night.

19 February – mid-April 2024: Kaagbaan unavailable due to major maintenance

The Kaagbaan Runway is undergoing major maintenance from 19 February to mid-April and is therefore unavailable to air traffic as of Sunday 18 February 23.00. During this period, more planes will land on the Zwanenburgbaan, Aalsmeerbaan and Buitenveldertbaan runways. For departing traffic, we will be deploying the Zwanenburgbaan, Aalsmeerbaan and Buitenveldertbaan more frequently. In exceptional cases, the Schiphol-Oostbaan Runway may be used for air traffic landing from the northeast.

25 April – 7 July 2024: Landing on Kaagbaan not possible at times of reduced visibility

Because of works on taxiways S1 and S2 in connection with the Dual Taxiway Quebec project, landings on the Kaagbaan Runway are not always possible. During the day, the Aalsmeerbaan Runway will be deployed for landing traffic at times of reduced visibility and northerly winds. At night, the Zwanenburgbaan Runway will be used.

13 May – 22 May 2024: maintenance Buitenveldertbaan (except Pentecost weekend)

From Monday 13 May to Wednesday 22 May, maintenance works are being carried out on the Buitenveldertbaan Runway. Departing flights will make use of the Kaagbaan Runway and landing flights the Schiphol-Oostbaan Runway in situations where the Buitenveldertbaan would normally be deployed. On 18, 19 and 20 May, the Buitenveldertbaan is available.

3 – 9 June 2024: maintenance Aalsmeerbaan

The Aalsmeerbaan Runway is unavailable between Monday 3 and Sunday 9 June due to maintenance. Aircraft that would normally take off from or land on the Aalsmeerbaan will be making use of the Zwanenburgbaan and Buitenveldertbaan runways in this period.

17 – 28 June 2024: maintenance Zwanenburgbaan

We are carrying out maintenance on the Zwanenburgbaan Runway between Monday 17 and Friday 28 June. Departing traffic will be making more frequent use of the Buitenveldertbaan and Kaagbaan runways. Landing traffic will be making more frequent use of the Buitenveldertbaan, Schiphol-Oostbaan and Kaagbaan runways. During this period of maintenance, work will begin on the Zwanenburgbaan's Instrument Landing System (ILS).

29 June – 1 September 2024: landings Zwanenburgbaan not possible when visibility limited

After the maintenance on the Zwanenburgbaan Runway, work will continue on the runway's ILS. For take-offs, more frequent use will be made of the Buitenveldertbaan and Kaagbaan runways during the ILS work. If there are no ILS works, departing traffic can use the Zwanenburgbaan. Landing traffic will make more frequent use of the Kaagbaan and Polderbaan runways at times of limited visibility. If visibility is good, landing on the Zwanenburg is possible, but parallel landings (in combination with the Polderbaan) are not. That is why flights can land on the Buitenveldertbaan, Schiphol-Oostbaan and Aalsmeerbaan runways in this situation. Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) is currently investigating whether parallel landings on the Polderbaan and Zwanenburgbaan runways are possible using RNP and ILS.

26 August – 16 September 2024: Test flights Zwanenburgbaan

Between 26 August and 16 September, various test flights and ground measurements are taking place on the Zwanenburgbaan Runway's ILS. The Zwanenburgbaan is not available during this period. The test flights still need to be scheduled, but they will occur outside of peak times.

16 September – mid-November 2024: Landings Zwanenburgbaan not possible when visibility limited

According to international safety standards, the Zwanenburgbaan Runway's ILS must work correctly for 30 days after the test flights have taken place before landings in reduced visibility are possible again. At times of limited visibility, the Buitenveldertbaan, Schiphol-Oostbaan or Aalsmeerbaan runways can be used for landing air traffic.

16 September – 24 September 2024: maintenance Schiphol-Oostbaan

From Monday 16 September to Tuesday 24 September, we are carrying out maintenance on the Schiphol-Oostbaan Runway. Business traffic will be making more use of the other runways during this period. On Saturday 21 September and Sunday 22 September, the Schiphol-Oostbaan is available.

28 October – 6 November 2024: maintenance Polderbaan

From Monday 28 October to Wednesday 6 November, the Polderbaan Runway is not available due to maintenance. Departing traffic will make more use of the Zwanenburgbaan and Buitenveldertbaan runways, landing traffic the Zwanenburgbaan, Buitenveldertbaan and Schiphol-Oostbaan runways.

Previous works

15 November – mid-December 2023: Polderbaan unavailable when visibility is limited

Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) is working on the landing system computers in the shelter next to the runway while the Polderbaan Runway undergoes maintenance. After these works, test flights need to be carried out to check that the entire landing system is working as it should. According to international safety regulations, the landing system then needs to function correctly for 30 days before landings can be made in limited visibility conditions. Only after this period of 30 days can the Polderbaan Runway be deployed for landing at times of limited visibility. During this period, the Zwanenburgbaan Runway can be deployed for landing, both during the day and at night, when there's a southerly wind and limited visibility. When visibility is good, the Polderbaan can be used for landing.

17 and 25 November and 2 December: test flights on Polderbaan

Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) is conducting test flights on the Polderbaan runway on Friday 17 and Saturday 25 November and Saturday 2 December. The Polderbaan runway will not be available for air traffic during these tests. As the Zwanenburgbaan runway is also unavailable during the test flights, we will use the Kaagbaan, Buitenveldertbaan, Schiphol-Oostbaan and Aalsmeerbaan runways to land and take-off. If the test flights cannot take place on the scheduled dates due to circumstances, such as bad weather, Friday 24 November, Sunday 26 November and Sunday 3 December have been reserved as spare dates. In addition, LVNL will conduct ground tests on the runway during the day on Monday 20 November.

29 November: test flights on Zwanenburgbaan Runway

Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) will conduct test flights on Zwanenburgbaan Runway (18C) on Wednesday 29 November in preparation for work on the ILS system scheduled for 2024. During the test flights, Runway 18C will not be available for regular air traffic. At those times, the other runways will be used. A more up-to-date forecast of runway use is published in advance on the website of the Local Community Contact Centre Schiphol (only Dutch). These test flights were initially scheduled for Monday 27 November, but were rescheduled due to bad weather.

6 – 15 November 2023: maintenance Polderbaan Runway

From Monday 6 November to Wednesday 15 November, the Polderbaan Runway is not available due to maintenance. It is expected that the Zwanenburgbaan and Buitenveldertbaan runways will be deployed for both take-off and landing on these days. The Schiphol-Oostbaan Runway may be used as a secondary runway. This depends on a variety of factors, including the weather conditions (showers, wind force and direction), runway availability and air traffic volumes. Air traffic will make use of the Zwanenburgbaan Runway at night.

18 September – 1 October 2023: maintenance Schiphol-Oostbaan Runway

The Schiphol-Oostbaan Runway is unavailable from Monday 18 September to Sunday 1 October because of maintenance works. This has little impact on regular air traffic because we mainly use this runway for small, business and private jets. During the period of works, this type of air traffic will make use of the Buitenveldertbaan Runway or one of the other runways.

4 – 12 September 2023: maintenance Kaagbaan Runway

From Monday 4 September to Tuesday 12 September the Kaagbaan Runway is undergoing maintenance and is therefore unavailable to air traffic. We therefore expect more planes to land on the Zwanenburgbaan and Aalsmeerbaan runways during this period. For departing planes, the Zwanenburgbaan, Aalsmeerbaan and Buitenveldertbaan runways will be deployed. Air traffic will make use of the Zwanenburgbaan Runway at night.

17 July - 19 July: Works on taxiway next to Zwanenburgbaan Runway

From 07:00 on Monday 17 July to 07:00 on Wednesday 19 July we'll be working on the taxiway next to the Zwanenburgbaan Runway. As a result, aircraft cannot land on the Zwanenburgbaan Runway from a northerly direction. During this period, and depending on the visibility, wind and weather conditions, we will be deploying the Buitenveldertbaan or Schiphol-Oostbaan runways as secondary runways for landing at peak times.

3 – 11 July 2023: maintenance Buitenveldertbaan Runway

From Monday 3 July to Tuesday 11 July there are maintenance works on the Buitenveldertbaan Runway. This runway will not be available to air traffic at this time, so the Schiphol-Oostbaan Runway will be deployed for landing when there is a strong (south)westerly wind or when rain showers hinder the approach to the Polderbaan and Zwanenburgbaan runways. During this period, another runway, such as the Schiphol-Oostbaan Runway, Zwanenburgbaan Runway or Aalsmeerbaan Runway, may be deployed in situations where the Buitenveldertbaan would normally be used.

4 May – begin July 2023: Zwanenburgbaan (south) not deployable when visibility poor

During the period of major maintenance on the Zwanenburgbaan Runway, Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) replaced the Instrument Landing System (ILS) for aircraft landing on this runway from the south (ILS36C). An ILS helps aircraft to make a gradual approach towards the runway. When visibility is good, aircraft can land using satellite navigation. According to international safety standards, the new ILS must have been working reliably and stably for thirty days before aircraft can land in all visibility conditions. After that, the Zwanenburgbaan will again be available for landings from the south in all visibility conditions. If the Kaagbaan Runway cannot be deployed during this time, the Aalsmeerbaan Runway can be used when there’s wind from the north and limited visibility. The Zwanenburgbaan Runway can be used as normal for take-offs towards the south and north, and for landings from northerly directions.

30 May – 5 June Kaagbaan unavailable at night

From Tuesday 30 May to Monday 5 June, between 23:00 and 06:00, surveys are being carried out on the Kaagbaan Runway. These surveys are being carried out as part of maintenance works that will take place at a later date. While these surveys are going on, air traffic will make use of the Zwanenburgbaan and Polderbaan runways where possible.

22 – 31 May 2023: maintenance Aalsmeerbaan Runway

The Aalsmeerbaan Runway is unavailable from Monday 22 May to Wednesday 31 May because of maintenance works. Aircraft that would usually take off or land on the Aalsmeerbaan will make use of the Kaagbaan, Zwanenburgbaan and Buitenveldertbaan runways.

13 May, 15 May and 20 May 2023: test flights Zwanenburgbaan South

On 13 May, 15 May and 21 May, Schiphol and Air Traffic Control the Netherlands are doing some test flights on the Zwanenburgbaan (from a southerly direction). We are conducting these flights in order to test the runway's updated Instrument Landing System (ILS). Because the aircraft used for the tests has to fly within the approach areas of the Zwanenburgbaan, Kaagbaan and Aalsmeerbaan runways, these runways will be unavailable for a few hours. This will be on Saturday 13 May from 22:00 to 02:30, Monday 15 May from 22:00 to 22:15 and on Saturday 20 May from 22:00 to 01:40. Air traffic will make use of the other runways like the Polderbaan Runway while the test flights occur. If the test flights cannot take place on the scheduled dates due to circumstances, such as bad weather, the spare dates are 14, 16 and 21 May.

2 January – beginMay 2023: Major maintenance Zwanenburgbaan

The Zwanenburgbaan Runway is undergoing major maintenance from 2 January to begin-May and is therefore unavailable to air traffic during this period. Air traffic that would usually take off from the Zwanenburgbaan Runway will make use of the Buitenveldertbaan Runway when there's a northerly wind. Air traffic that would usually land on the Zwanenburgbaan Runway will make use of the Buitenveldertbaan or Schiphol-Oostbaan runways when there's a southerly wind or when the wind and visual conditions demand it. A small proportion of flights will use the Kaagbaan Runway. If the Kaagbaan is not available at night at any point during the period of works, an exemption to use the Aalsmeerbaan Runway has been applied for.

During and after the major maintenance, Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) are replacing the Zwanenburgbaan's Instrument Landing System (ILS). An ILS helps aircraft make a gradual curved approach towards the runway. A number of works on the ILS can only be carried out after the major maintenance is complete. In the six weeks after the completion of the maintenance (forecasted to last until the end of June), the Zwanenburgbaan cannot be deployed for landings from a southerly direction in all visibility conditions. If the Kaagbaan Runway is unavailable, the Aalsmeerbaan Runway can be deployed when there's a northerly wind and limited visibility.

1, 2 and 3 May 2023: test flights Zwanenburgbaan North

On Monday 1 May, Tuesday 2 May and Wednesday 3 May, Schiphol and LVNL are carrying out test flights on the northerly side of the Zwanenburgbaan Runway between 20:00 and 23:00. These flights allow us to calibrate the runway's landing systems (ILS 18C and PAPI). Because the test aircraft has to fly in the approach zone on the northern side of the Zwanenburgbaan Runway, this may affect runway use.