Court allows Schiphol’s ground-handling plan to proceed
Aviapartner, Menzies and Swissport lose their challenge to the tender.
Challenges to the tender for ground handling at Schiphol have been rejected. The airport can therefore proceed with its plan to work with three ground handlers instead of six from 2027.
Schiphol announced on Wednesday that the court had rejected the challenges to the tender. The airport therefore considers the award final. The three companies that took the case to court, Aviapartner, Menzies and Swissport, had not been awarded a provisional contract.
Schiphol previously selected dnata, KLM and Viggo. Under the new model, they will receive concessions for handling baggage and aircraft. Airlines will then continue to sign contracts with one of the selected service providers.
The tender is part of a broader reform of the market. Schiphol wants to move away from an open model with several competing providers and switch to a regulated market with three parties. According to the airport, this should improve cooperation, safety, working conditions and service provision.
The companies that lost had raised questions about, among other things, the assessment of their bids, KLM’s role and the selection of dnata and Viggo. The way in which airlines had been involved in the procedure also came up during the court case.
The situation will not change immediately for employees. The transition to the new model is scheduled for 28 March 2027. Schiphol, the ground handlers and FNV have made agreements on support in moving to a new employer and retaining employment conditions as far as possible.
Schiphol expects travellers eventually to notice the change through shorter waits for baggage. That is the airport’s objective, not a settled result. The ruling ends the tender procedure, but the practical transition still has to take place and the contracts between airlines and handlers still need to be arranged.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The court has rejected the challenges to the tender.
- The number of ground handlers will be reduced from six to three.
- The transition is scheduled for 28 March 2027.
Left
Arguments A regulated market can be justified if it improves workload, safety and employment conditions in ground handling. Workers and travellers must not pay the price for competition focused solely on cost-cutting.
Values Collective protection, good public services and employee participation.
Consequences Fewer providers could create risks of concentrated power, but clear employment and quality requirements could make the sector more stable.
Centre
Arguments The tender is defensible if Schiphol can demonstrate that it selected fairly and carries out the transition with due legal and social care. Efficiency must go hand in hand with oversight and measurable quality standards.
Values Institutional care, continuity and an accountable balancing of interests.
Consequences The new structure could become clearer, but its effect on baggage, staff and fares must be monitored in practice.
Right
Arguments Schiphol should retain the freedom to choose the most suitable commercial partners itself. Excessive regulation can restrict innovation and price competition and unnecessarily sideline companies that lose out.
Values Market forces, business freedom and the airport’s responsibility for its own operations.
Consequences A smaller group of providers could work more efficiently, but less competition could also lead to greater dependence and less choice.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The outcome and timetable are taken directly from Schiphol’s announcement. The background to the tender and the challenges was also checked against an independent aviation publication.
- confirmed The challenges to the tender have been rejected. — Schiphol reports that the court rejected the challenges. source
- confirmed Aviapartner, Menzies and Swissport took the case to court. — This is stated in background information from Schiphol and Aviation Pros. source
- confirmed Schiphol is moving from six to three ground handlers. — Schiphol describes this as the aim of the new market model. source
- confirmed dnata, KLM and Viggo were selected. — The airport names these three parties as the provisional and later final winners. source
- confirmed The new structure is due to start on 28 March 2027. — This intended start date appears in Schiphol’s current timetable. source
Editor's note
The ruling itself is based on Schiphol’s announcement; no separate public judgment was found in the sources consulted. The challenges and background to the tender were described independently by Aviation Pros.Sources
- Schiphol wint rechtszaak: definitieve gunning grondafhandeling — Royal Schiphol Group
- Schiphol Ground Handling Tender Challenged in Court — Aviation Pros
- Schiphol Grondafhandeling aanbesteding — Royal Schiphol Group