• KLM grounded coronavirus
    Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

    IATA/ICAO Code:
    AMS/EHAM

    Country:
    Netherlands

    CEO:
    Dick Benschop

    Passenger Count :
    20,887,144 (2020)

    Runways :
    18R/36L 'Polderbaan' - 3,800m (12,467ft) |06/24 'Kaagbaan' - 3,500m (11,483ft) |09/27 'Buitenveldertbaan' - 3,453m (11,329ft) |18L/36R 'Aalsmeerbaan' - 3,400m (11,155ft) |18C/36C 'Zwanenburgbaan' - 3,300m (10,827ft) |04/22 'Oostbaan' - 2,014m (6,608ft)

Amsterdam Schiphol is one of the busiest airports in Europe and the world, serving hundreds of destinations globally. As a hub for KLM and many other airlines, passengers may often find themselves connecting at this airport. So how long do you need to connect at Amsterdam Schiphol, especially in these unique circumstances?

The airport

Unlike many hub airports, Amsterdam features a single terminal divided into three departure halls, 1, 2, and 3. The single terminal allows passengers to walk between their gates and avoid long wait times for transfer options. Depending on the flight, passengers may have to clear passport and border checks when moving between halls.

SkyTeam airlines dominate Schiphol due to the dominance of Dutch flag carrier KLM. Photo: Getty Images

Hall 1 caters exclusively to Schengen Zone flights (travel between the 26 border-free EU states) and uses Piers B, C, and D.

Hall 2 is the largest one and caters to both international and Schengen flights, using Pier D and E. SkyTeam passengers flying on KLM, Delta, or others, along with major Middle Eastern and East Asian carriers will likely find themselves in Pier E when connecting onto international flights.

Hall 3 is also a mixed terminal dominated by SkyTeam airlines, served by Piers F, G, H, and M. Passengers on low-cost airlines will find themselves in pier H or M depending on if their flight is Schengen or international respectively. Piers F and G cater exclusively to non-Schengen flights, with SkyTeam prevalent in the former.

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Connecting time

Depending on your flight type and piers, passengers can find themselves with varying connecting times. KLM recommends setting aside at least 40 minutes for Schengen flights, a realistic figure. This is assuming your bags are checked through, and you have the needed boarding pass, without which you'll have to exit the airport and clear security again.

Walking between gates can take anywhere between two and 30 minutes depending on the distance, so be ready to sprint if your flight is running late. There are no additional security checks so passengers can simply walk to their next gate.

However, health checks nowadays could mean this time is slightly longer so do leave some cushion to compensate for flight delays.

KLM 3.4 billion euro rescue package
Photo: Getty Images

For international flights, KLM recommends at least 50 minutes of transit time. However, passport and health checks that are currently in place will likely extend this time. For intercontinental flights, we'd recommend at least 75 minutes during the current circumstances.

KLM states the following:

"The minimum required transfer time at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is 40 minutes for Schengen flights and 50 minutes for non-Schengen flights. Please note, though, that if you travel to a non-Schengen country, you'll need to go through additional security and passport checks. This could increase your required transfer time."

Once again, your airline could make a difference. Depending on the destination, SkyTeam partner airlines could be placed aat the same pier, cutting down transit time by a lot. However, if your airline is located at a different pier, or you are connecting from an EU flight, the walk could be up to 30 minutes.

Quick tips

A quick tip from our writer and KLM enthusiast Chris Loh: immigration tends to get busy during the mornings and early afternoon, so be sure to leave extra time if you're connecting around then. The airport does have automated lanes for EU passport holders, cutting down the time substantially.

Amsterdam Schiphol is one of the easiest airports to transfer through, rivaled only by competitors Paris Charles De Gaulle and London Heathrow. Even during this current pandemic, minus a few temperature checks, transit should be a breeze!

Current struggles

Schiphol has seen a considerable rebound in passenger traffic following two years of downturn due to the pandemic. Over four times as many people are traveling compared to spring last year. This factor has caused substantial operational issues at Schiphol, with cancellations, delays, and crowding ongoing. The airport is looking to recruit more employees, optimize the flow of passengers, and make agreements with airlines about flight planning.

So, in this recovery period, it's advisable to allow plenty of time between flights in case of congestion on the ground. Don't push the limit to ensure that you reach your next flight smoothly.

Notably, KLM on Saturday announced that it canceled all flights from Europe to Schiphol that evening, to help ease movement. This move further emphasizes the concerns at the airport.

Have you flown through Amsterdam Schiphol before? How was your experience connecting? Let us know what you think of the airport in the comment section!