Airport Updates: Latest News On The Global Market (W/C March 23, 2026)

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) issued €500 million ($575 million) in bonds. “The bond issue contributes to Schiphol's financial robustness and to improving quality for travelers, airlines and employees,” AMS said. CFO Robert Carsouw added: “Solid and stable finances are essential. The reality is that we'll be consistently spending more money than we earn over the coming years. That's why we are borrowing additional funds and continuously seeking the right balance between our operating costs, charges and investments.” AMS said it placed the bonds with “a wide range of institutional investors. The final orderbook amounted to €3.2 billion.” The bonds are listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

Swedavia named Mats Johannesson its new CEO, effective in early May. State-owned company Svedavia operates 10 airports in Sweden, including Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN). The company also reported a sizable increase in its operating profit for 2025. Johannesson previously was CEO of public transport company MTR Express. Ulrika Francke, chair of Swedavia’s board of directors, said Johannesson “has broad experience with leading large organizations and businesses with a focus on results, quality and not least communication.” Johannesson added: “Swedavia’s airports play a central role in society, both by connecting us as a country and by linking us to the rest of the world. That contributes to growth, as well as our international competitiveness.” Swedavia reported a 2025 operating profit of SEK324 million ($35 million), an increase of SEK298 million over the company’s 2024 operating profit. Swedavia’s 10 airports handled more than 33 million passengers in 2025, up 2.4% over 2024. “Growth was driven by international travel, which increased by 3.2%, while domestic travel remained at the same level as in 2024,” Swedavia said. “In October, an important milestone was reached when the number of international passengers at Stockholm Arlanda Airport exceeded the equivalent pre‑pandemic monthly level for the first time since 2019.”

Ethiopian Airlines opened an expanded domestic terminal at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD). The expansion, which cost $50 million, doubled the size of the terminal to more than 25,000 m² (270,000 ft.²). The airline operates more than 200 domestic flights daily from ADD to over 20 destinations.  

London Stansted Airport (STN) completed an upgrade to its main airfield security checkpoint. “The building acts as a checkpoint between the public side of the airport and the restricted airfield, and it is where staff, vehicles and deliveries must show ID and be cleared before entering,” STN said. “The new facility includes modern security systems, better working conditions for the colleagues who staff it and a more efficient layout designed for a smoother process for the thousands of authorized vehicle movements that take place each week.”

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) confirmed its new €4 billion ($4.5 billion) Terminal 3 will open for operations on April 23. The terminal will have the capacity to handle around 19 million passengers annually. FRA forecasts the airport will handle a total of 65 million to 66 million passengers in 2026. FRA handled just over 62 million passengers in 2025. The figure remained 10% below 2019 levels.

Porto Airport (OPO) completed a €50 million ($57 million) project that included building a new operations coordination center and renovating its single runway. The airport resurfaced the runway, upgraded its drainage system, replaced airfield lighting with LED technology and installed an instrument landing system enabling operations in low-visibility conditions. OPO handled 16.9 million passengers in 2025, up 6.3% year over year and its highest ever annual traffic level.