Royal Schiphol Group has initiated a procurement process for five major construction and maintenance tenders, marking a structural shift in how Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) will manage its infrastructure through the next decade.

Announced in a press release on September 25, 2026, the tenders are a foundational element of the Airports €10 billion investment program running through 2035. The new nine-year framework agreements will take effect in 2028 when current contracts expire, transferring greater direct control over asset planning and infrastructure management back to the airport operator.

Scope of the infrastructure overhaul

The €10 billion master plan, initially outlined in late 2025, targets overdue maintenance and funds major capital projects, including the construction of a new Terminal South and extensive renovations to existing piers. The five newly announced tenders divide the required work across terminals, technical installations, aprons, and operational buildings.

Specific assets covered under the upcoming Contracts include concrete aprons, passenger bridges, gate-based power, pre-conditioned air supply systems, and charging infrastructure. The scope also extends to technical rooms, retail units, climate control systems, and airport fire stations.

Royal Schiphol Group Chief Infrastructure Officer Bart Smolders described the initiative as the largest renewal and maintenance program in the airport’s history. The stated objective is to elevate the facility back to the standard of Europe’s leading aviation hubs.

Shifting the contracting model

The transition to new framework agreements in 2028 represents a change in Schiphol’s operational Strategy. Rather than fully outsourcing asset management, the airport intends to combine market expertise with increased internal direction and control.

Smolders noted that achieving the €10 billion renewal requires strong partners, with the tenders laying the foundation for long-term collaboration under this revised model. The nine-year duration of the framework agreements is designed to provide stability for these Partnerships while ensuring the airport maintains oversight of its critical infrastructure.

AirPro News analysis

We view this procurement strategy as part of a broader consolidation effort by Royal Schiphol Group to regain operational authority over its critical services. This mirrors recent moves on the ramp; in June 2026, the airport reduced its authorized ground handling companies from six to three following a public tender process. While that specific reduction faces legal challenges from outgoing providers, the overarching strategy is clear. By bringing asset planning and infrastructure management closer to the center, Schiphol is attempting to eliminate the fragmentation that can delay major modernization projects and complicate daily operations.

Sources: Royal Schiphol Group

Edinburgh Airports (EDI) has unveiled a £500 million ($670 million) capital investment program designed to expand its terminal footprint by 60 percent and add eight new departure gates over the next five years.

Announced in a press release on September 21, 2026, the multi-year development marks the largest infrastructure investment in the Scottish hub’s history. The project aims to accommodate growing passenger volumes while modernizing facilities under the ownership of VINCI Airports and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). According to reporting by Aviation Week, the airport handled approximately 17 million passengers in 2025.

Terminal expansion and construction timeline

The cornerstone of the initial development phase is the South East Pier Expansion (SEPEX). Infrastructure group Balfour Beatty secured the approximately £65 million contract for this phase in May 2025.

The two-story expansion will provide eight additional departure gates, new aircraft stands, and upgraded passenger amenities. According to the airport’s announcement, this first phase of the development is scheduled to fully open to passengers in the summer of 2027.

Nick Rowan, Managing Director for Scotland at Balfour Beatty, stated the company is proud to help deliver the infrastructure required for the airport’s next chapter of growth. A spokesperson for VINCI Airports and GIP noted the £500 million investment underscores their long-term commitment to increasing capacity and consolidating the facility’s role as Scotland’s primary international gateway.

Economic impact and leadership transition

The capital injection aligns with a period of significant transition for the airport’s executive team. On October 1, 2026, Mark Johnston, currently Chief Operating Officer at London Gatwick Airport (LGW), will succeed Gordon Dewar as Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport. Dewar is stepping down after 14 years in the role, a tenure that saw annual passenger traffic nearly double from 9 million in 2012.

Dewar described the £500 million program as the biggest investment in the airport’s history, adding that the growth has cemented the facility’s position as Scotland’s busiest and best-connected airport.

The development also carries broader regional implications. An independent report published by BiGGAR Economics indicated that Edinburgh Airport generated £2.7 billion in economic value for Scotland in 2025 and supported nearly 44,000 jobs. First Minister of Scotland John Swinney stated the investment will support international connections and help drive regional economic growth.

AirPro News analysis

We view this £500 million commitment by VINCI Airports and GIP as a strong indicator of long-term confidence in the Scottish aviation market. By expanding the terminal footprint by 60 percent, Edinburgh Airport is proactively addressing the capacity constraints that often plague growing regional hubs. The timing of the announcement, arriving just days before Mark Johnston assumes the Chief Executive role, provides the incoming leadership with a clear, fully funded mandate for infrastructure modernization. The addition of eight new gates will likely allow the airport to attract new airline operators and expand its route network, particularly in the transatlantic and European leisure markets.

Sources: Edinburgh Airport

This article summarizes reporting by Metropolitan Airport News and a press release from The New Terminal One.

The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and JCM Business Solutions have commenced operations at an 83,500-square-foot off-site logistics hub designed to remove third-party delivery trucks from the active airfield.

The Consolidated Receiving and Distribution Center (CRDC) screens and consolidates all inbound terminal goods before they reach the airport perimeter. The facility operates in full compliance with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) security protocols.

Operational security and airfield decongestion

Located approximately three miles from the airport in Jamaica, Queens, the standalone JCM Logistics Complex occupies a full city block. Metropolitan Airport News reported on September 22, 2026, that the facility utilizes a controlled security environment featuring clearly defined secured and non-secured zones. All logistics and screening operations are conducted exclusively by direct JCM employees rather than subcontractors.

The primary function of the CRDC is to intercept vendor deliveries before they reach the airport. Goods are received, inspected, and consolidated onto dedicated, secure transport vehicles for the final three-mile journey to the terminal. This process eliminates the need for multiple independent delivery trucks to navigate the congested roadways and secure airside areas of JFK.

JCM Business Solutions Chief Operating Officer Michael Conlon noted that The New Terminal One was the primary catalyst for the CRDC, bringing the concept directly to the Port Authority. He stated that the terminal operators championed the first-of-its-kind project at JFK by investing the necessary capital and resources to bring it to fruition.

Integration with JFK redevelopment

The logistics hub supports the broader $19 billion transformation of JFK spearheaded by the PANYNJ. The New Terminal One is scheduled to open its first phase, comprising 14 gates, in 2026. Full completion of the 2.6-million-square-foot, 23-gate terminal is projected for 2030.

Initially announced on June 23, 2025, the off-site logistics model is expected to create 60 local jobs in Queens. The New Terminal One Vice President of Operations Marisa Von Wieding stated that the partnership delivers innovative logistics solutions that enhance operational excellence while reinforcing a commitment to local job creation and sustainability.

JCM Business Solutions CEO Judith E. Conlon added that the company is prepared to provide supply chain services with the operational integrity required to drive value for airport clients.

AirPro News analysis

We view the implementation of a Consolidated Receiving and Distribution Center as a necessary evolution for constrained mega-hub airports. By shifting the screening and consolidation of retail and food service goods to an off-site location, operators significantly reduce the volume of unescorted or third-party commercial vehicles navigating the Air Operations Area (AOA). This reduction directly lowers the risk of ground collisions, security breaches, and the introduction of Foreign Object Debris (FOD) near aircraft. As terminal footprints expand and passenger volumes grow, off-site logistics hubs will likely become a standard requirement for major airport redevelopment projects.

Sources: Metropolitan Airport News