✈️ Schiphol Business Jet Traffic Declines, Secondary Airports in the Netherlands and Belgium Rise Collectively
Avi-Go data shows that from January 1 to June 15, 2026, the four major airports in the Netherlands and Belgium recorded a combined total of 13,993 business jet movements, a slight year-on-year decrease of 0.5%, but with a marked divergence in internal structure: the main hub Amsterdam Schiphol (EHAM) fell to 5,181 movements, a year-on-year decrease of 392 movements, or 7.0%; meanwhile, Rotterdam (EHRD) grew 3.1% to 2,819 movements, Brussels (EBBR) grew 5.3% to 3,198 movements, and Antwerp (EBAW) grew 2.6% to 2,795 movements, with all three secondary airports rising together. Schiphol is clearly affected by slot constraints, but whether the traffic is being directly diverted to secondary airports still requires further verification.
Impact: Regional business jet traffic is showing signs of rebalancing toward secondary airports. Schiphol's slot constraints may continue to suppress its business jet capacity, while the steady growth at Rotterdam, Brussels, and Antwerp will enhance their attractiveness in the competition for FBO and ground service resources.
Recommendation: FBO and ground service operators may initiate capacity and staffing assessments for EHRD, EBBR, and EBAW within the third quarter of 2026, prioritizing the expansion of handling capabilities ahead of the July–September peak season. When planning Netherlands-Belgium legs for clients, brokers should include secondary airports as alternatives to avoid the Schiphol slot bottleneck.