State-controlled Royal Schiphol Group is taking more ambitious steps in the global airports market and not simply through its biggest asset: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). The Netherlands airport has one of the world’s best networks, offering 327 destinations in 2018 with an efficient multimodal hub and one of the slickest connections into the European rail network. But aside of this jewel in the crown, RSG has picked up the pace in the international marketplace (see panel below) and is also leading the charge on sustainability. The group—which also runs Rotterdam, The Hague and Lelystad airports, and has a majority stake in Eindhoven Airport—has made global reach an important priority. Dick Benschop President & CEO of Royal Schiphol Group (RSG), says: “In 2018 we were Europe’s second-best airport in terms of direct connections. The Netherlands is now connected to more than half of all economic centres worldwide (52%) and more than three quarters of Europe’s economic centres (77%).” As well as RSG’s declared aim of ‘Connecting the Netherlands’ it has made sustainability a lot of attention. “We have marked our spot on the horizon by stating that Schiphol will be the most sustainable hub airport in the world,” notes Benschop. Schiphol is already ahead of some competitor hubs having been CO2 neutral for several years, 100% fuelled by Dutch wind energy. It is also promoting cleaner and quieter aircraft and new, more sustainable fuels; but also reviewing flight routes and procedures.