Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has finalized ground handling contracts with dnata, KLM and Viggo after a Dutch court rejected challenges to the airport’s tender process brought by Aviapartner, Menzies Aviation and Swissport.

The Sept. 23 ruling by the District Court of The Hague clears the way for Schiphol to move ahead with plans to reduce the number of ground handling companies operating at the airport from six to three.

The three companies challenged the tender after dnata, KLM and Viggo were provisionally selected in June. The objections included questions about the evaluation of bids, KLM’s position as both an airline and ground handler, dnata’s selection and whether Viggo would have sufficient staff and resources to support its operations.

The court rejected the claims, allowing the provisional awards to become final.

Schiphol launched the tender in December 2025 as part of a shift from an open ground handling market to a regulated model. Under the new arrangement, dnata, KLM and Viggo will receive concessions to provide baggage handling and apron services. Airlines will remain free to choose among the three providers.

The transition will now move into its next phase, with airlines and the selected handlers preparing new contracts and operational arrangements ahead of the March 28, 2027, start date.

Employee transitions also will begin. Schiphol said job-to-job continuity is a key principle of the process, with a shared mobility pool intended to help employees of handlers that did not receive concessions move to positions with the selected companies. Arrangements have been established to preserve salary, working hours, contract type, length of service and other employment conditions as much as possible.

Schiphol has said reducing the number of handlers will allow the airport to establish stronger requirements for safety, working conditions, service quality and sustainability while improving cooperation among companies operating on the ramp.