We regularly carry out maintenance on our runways and taxiways at Schiphol to keep them in good condition. We also carry out works to improve the whole runway system. These maintenance and other works can affect runway and air traffic, and therefore the local area. This schedule for 2021 shows you when each runway will be undergoing works.
Published on: 12 November 2020
Schedule 2021
- 22 November - 26 January: works on taxiways (Quebec project)
- 25 January - 26 April: major maintenance Polderbaan Runway
- 1 February - 12 April: works on taxiways (Quebec project)
- 26 April – 17 May: works on taxiways (Quebec project)
- 17 May – 6 June: maintenance Zwanenburgbaan Runway
- 14 June – 4 July: maintenance Buitenveldertbaan Runway
- 12 July – 25 July: maintenance Schiphol-Oostbaan Runway
- 20 September – 10 October: maintenance Aalsmeerbaan Runway
- 11 October – 17 October: maintenance Kaagbaan Runway
Take a look at what consequences the works will have on air traffic here.
Major maintenance Polderbaan
The Polderbaan Runway will be out of use for a while due to major maintenance works. It will be unavailable between 25 January and 26 April. This will affect aircraft noise in the area. Throughout this period, air traffic will land day and night on the Zwanenburgbaan Runway when there’s a southerly wind. When there’s a northerly wind, air traffic will take off from the Buitenveldertbaan Runway whenever possible. While this maintenance is being carried out, the Zwanenburgbaan Runway will be less suitable as a runway for take-off in a northerly direction. This is because the taxiways and entry routes to the south of this runway are unavailable. An exemption has been requested for night flights on the Zwanenburgbaan Runway. When there’s a northerly wind, the Zwanenburgbaan Runway will be used at night for take-offs in a northerly direction. The Kaagbaan Runway may be used occasionally as a runway for take-off towards the northeast in the event of north-easterly wind.
Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) will replace the Polderbaan Runway’s Instrument Landing System (ILS) as part of this major maintenance. An ILS assists airplanes in making a gradual descent towards the runways. Some of the maintenance that needs to be done on the ILS can only be carried out once the main works have been completed. For up to six weeks after the completion of this maintenance, the Polderbaan Runway and the Zwanenburgbaan Runway – due to works on the taxiways (26 April – 17 May) and maintenance on the Zwanenburgbaan Runway itself (17 May – 6 June) – cannot be used as runways for landing in all visibility conditions. As a result, the Buitenveldertbaan Runway or Schiphol-Oostbaan Runway might be used more often when there’s a southerly wind.
Works on taxiways
Schiphol is turning Quebec into a dual taxiway and is therefore building a second viaduct across the A4 motorway for taxiing air traffic. For this purpose, we’ll be carrying out various works on the taxiways around this viaduct. These are Quebec, Zulu and Bravo – the taxiways to the south and west of the Zwanenburgbaan Runway. These taxiways are usually used for aircraft taxiing to and from the Polderbaan Runway along the south side of the Zwanenburgbaan Runway. While these works are going on, traffic can only taxi along the north side of the Zwanenburgbaan Runway via taxiway Yankee when both the Zwanenburgbaan and Polderbaan runways are being used. These works on the taxiways can have an impact on runway use and therefore on aircraft noise in the area. When there’s a southerly wind, the Buitenveldertbaan or Schiphol-Oostbaan runways might be used more often as a second runway for landing at peak times. When there’s a northerly wind, the Buitenveldertbaan Runway can be used more often as a runway for take-off. These works will not affect runway use at night.