Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is restructuring its Cargo Division, bringing it into its new Aviation Business Development Division under the umbrella of business unit Airport Operations and Aviation Partnerships, from the first of March 2021.

From this date, Miriam Hoekstra-van der Deen will step down as director airport operations and will be succeeded by Patricia Vitalis, senior manager process, development & capacity management.

The move will put all airline and cargo commercial and operational business into a single division under the leadership of Anne Marie van Hemert, Sr. manager aviation business development, reporting into Patricia Vitalis as new head of the Airport Operations and Aviation Partnerships Business Unit.

Airport cargo information platform Cargonaut, recently acquired by Royal Schiphol Group, will also be part of the new Aviation Business Development Division.

“Cargo is, and remains, important to Schiphol and it supports the passenger network, making certain intercontinental routes profitable for many passenger airlines,” said Miriam Hoekstra – van der Deen.

The new division will continue to support ongoing cargo initiatives by the community including Vaccines Gateway Netherlands, Pharma Gateway Amsterdam, the Holland Flower Alliance, and the Smart Cargo Mainport Program (SCMP), and will continue to fight for a dedicated cargo slot pool.

It was also announced that Bart Pouwels, head of cargo, and Ferry van der Ent, director of business development will both leave Schiphol in March.

“We would like to thank Bart and Ferry for their inspirational leadership over the years at Schiphol Cargo and wish them the best for the future,” said Miriam Hoekstra – van der Deen.

A manager for the new Airline and Cargo Partnerships team will be appointed over the coming weeks.