News: Buitenveldertbaan Runway to be used more often at peak times

Starting in the evening of Sunday 22 November, works are going to be carried out on the taxiway system to the south of the Zwanenburgbaan Runway for the next six months. The Zwanenburgbaan Runway will therefore be unavailable or available less frequently than usual. We therefore expect the Buitenveldertbaan or Schiphol-Oostbaan runways to be used more often as a second runway for landing at peak times when there is a southerly wind. The Buitenveldertbaan Runway may be used more often as a second runway for take-off at peak times when there is a northerly wind.

Published on: 19 November 2020

Extra runway

The deployment of the Buitenveldertbaan or Schiphol-Oostbaan runways as secondary runways depends on factors such as the weather conditions, wind direction and air traffic volumes during peak times. Every Friday, we reveal when you can expect the daily peak take-off and landing times in our weekly fact sheet. At peak times, there are many aircraft taking off and landing one after the other. This means that some of them must use a second runway to take off or land.

Taxi route

Normally, the Zwanenburgbaan Runway can also be used at peak times. However, due to the works being carried out to turn Quebec into a dual taxiway, the availability of this runway will be lower than usual. While these works are going on, aircraft will not be able to use taxiways Quebec, Zulu, Alfa and Bravo on the south side of the Zwanenburgbaan Runway. Planes taxiing to and from the Polderbaan Runway will consequently only be able to use the taxi route to the north of the Zwanenburgbaan Runway. We therefore expect to deploy the Buitenveldertbaan Runway at peak times when the Polderbaan Runway is in use. Read more about the availability of the Zwanenburgbaan Runway.

Works schedule

Starting in the evening of Sunday 22 November and continuing into May 2021, works will regularly be carried out on the taxiway system as part of the project to turn Quebec into a dual taxiway and build a new viaduct over the A4. The works may affect runway use and therefore air traffic during the following periods:

  • 22 November – 26 January
  • 1 February – 12 April: at the same time as major maintenance on the Polderbaan Runway
  • 26 April – 17 May

Take a look at the complete schedule of runway maintenance and works here.