Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport processed 55 million passengers last year, up 4.6% on 2013, CEO Jos Nijhuis announced on Tuesday.

Regional airports in the Schiphol Group also grew, with 3.9 million passengers using Eindhoven airport, a rise of 16% and Rotterdam airport handling 1.7 million travellers, up 6.1%.

‘But this is does not mean we can relax,’ Nijhuis said at the presentation of the figures. ‘We shall be working hard with our partners to strengthen the role of Schiphol as a mainport and to remain Europe’s preferred airport. And our regional airports play an important role in this.’

Nijhuis also said that the accessibility of Schiphol could be improved and that he wants an extra direct connection with the city of Amsterdam.

He also said he expects growth to continue into 2015.