The Hague, 14 October 2026 — Deerns is supporting Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with four new passenger boarding bridges and aircraft stand upgrades.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is preparing to replace four end-of-life passenger boarding bridges on the north side of Pier B. Deerns has completed the design for the bridges, transforming what began as a straightforward replacement into a wider upgrade of the aircraft stands.
“Our role was to look beyond the bridge itself and make sure the complete stand would work safely and efficiently for aircraft, passengers and ground-handling teams,” says Ivar Bal, Project Leader Airport Systems.
The project includes stand electrification, ground power, preconditioned air, aircraft compatibility and compliance with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) requirements. The new bridges have been manufactured by Tianda and are scheduled for installation in late 2026.
From replacement to integrated stand upgrade
The original brief focused on replacing four of the pier’s six existing bridges on a one-for-one basis. As the project developed, Schiphol used the opportunity to improve the stand environment and prepare it for changing operational needs.
The expanded scope includes 4 deliverables:
- new passenger boarding bridges and fixed links
- ground power, preconditioned air and stand electrification
- associated electrical infrastructure
- accommodation of the Airbus A321
Where possible, the design works with the existing openings in the terminal façade to limit construction work on the pier. This demands precise coordination between the new fixed links, bridge positions and existing building interfaces.
Simulating every movement around the aircraft
Aircraft stands are tightly constrained operational environments. A bridge must connect safely to aircraft with different door positions and heights while baggage vehicles, catering trucks, fuelling operations, cleaning teams and other services work around it. Deerns created aircraft “clouds” that overlay the envelopes of every aircraft type expected to use each stand.
Simulations assessed 4 key criteria:
- aircraft parking positions, door locations and bridge reach
- EASA clearances and dependencies between neighbouring stands
- bridge slopes and passenger accessibility
- routes and working space for ground-handling vehicles
Minimising bridge slope is particularly important for wheelchair users and families with pushchairs. Positioning also influences turnaround: the sooner a bridge can connect, the sooner disembarkation and servicing can begin.
“Simulation proves that an aircraft can be handled and also reveals how one decision affects every activity on the stand,” Bal explains. “The modelling identified a specific challenge for the A321. In its initial position, a catering vehicle would have blocked the stand entrance and exit. We moved the aircraft position slightly to preserve regulatory clearance and bridge connectivity, thus enabling an efficient turnaround process.”
Planning construction around live operations
Replacing a passenger boarding bridge takes its stand out of service. Demolition and foundation works may also require heavy machinery to enter an adjacent stand or temporarily close a service road. At a busy airport, these dependencies can have a direct impact on operational capacity.
Constructability was a key design consideration throughout the project. Bridge islands, foundations and fixed equipment are positioned to minimise the space required for construction machinery and, wherever possible, avoid unnecessary interference with operational roads and adjacent stands.
Achieving this required an accurate understanding of existing conditions. Airport drawings do not always reflect the current physical situation, so Deerns began with detailed site inspections, verifying existing records against apron markings, cabinets, lighting columns, hydrants, drainage systems and other fixed assets before finalising the design.
Checking quality before shipment
After design completion, Deerns performed the factory acceptance test at Tianda’s production facility in China to ensure that all equipment was as designed and ready for efficient installation in the Netherlands.
Bal says, “By checking the bridges during production, we could resolve defects where they were easiest to correct at the point of production, which gave the client greater confidence in the final installation.”
The Pier B programme shows why passenger boarding bridges should be treated as part of an integrated airport system. By combining operational knowledge, aircraft and vehicle simulation, electrical engineering, constructability and factory quality assurance, Deerns is helping Schiphol renew essential infrastructure while ensuring safety, capacity and a smooth passenger experience.
