In 2023, 111,200 people were employed by companies at Schiphol and their suppliers. Together, they contributed 11.8 billion to the Dutch economy. This means that the airport is responsible for about 1% of national employment and GDP. However, the economic relevance of the airport goes beyond the companies at Schiphol and their suppliers. The main importance of Schiphol to the Dutch economy lies in the international accessibility that it facilitates. This accessibility enables companies to transport people and goods quickly and at relatively low cost. The resulting cost benefits and productivity gains make it attractive for companies to locate near the airport.

The Schiphol region is characterised by much international business activity, especially in ICT and in financial and business services. The international accessibility facilitated by Schiphol is considered an important location factor by such companies. However, the importance of Schiphol in the total set of location factors is difficult to isolate.

The (scientific) literature shows that aviation growth usually has a positive impact on economic development (and vice versa). However, as a country or region becomes better connected, the marginal impact of additional air connectivity becomes smaller.

Based on the literature, it can be concluded that Schiphol Airport has a positive impact on the Dutch economy. Companies benefit from the wide range of destinations which are served at high frequencies. This is especially true for companies in the (extensive) service sector that rely heavily on air connections. However, because the Netherlands – via Schiphol and other airports – is already well connected to the rest of the world, further growth of Schiphol will have an increasingly smaller impact on the economy. The reverse is also true: a small reduction in the number of flights will have a modest impact on the economy. Loss of the hub function, on the other hand, will be accompanied by a relatively large loss of destinations and frequencies, with a correspondingly large impact on the economy and the business climate.