Staff crunch: Schiphol demands flight cancellation

Long queues of passengers are once again seen at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The reason for this is the acute shortage of security personnel. The operator called on airlines to cancel flights.

The operator of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has called on airlines to cancel flights because there are currently long queues due to a shortage of staff. “There is a shortage of security personnel and the number of waiting passengers is increasing,” the company said.

“The terminal staff is doing everything possible so that everyone can travel today,” the airport operator said. “But unfortunately there is a possibility that passengers will miss their flights due to long wait times.” In this case they can contact the airport and they can be compensated. Travelers should find out about delayed and canceled flights in good time.

Airport chaos already in July and August

Departures Terminal 3 is particularly jam-packed with passengers. Airlines have been called to cancel flights between 4 pm and 11 pm on Monday. Long queues of passengers can be seen in photos on social networks, reaching far and wide in front of the airport building. The fire brigade distributed water and sweets to the waiting people.

In July and August due to shortage of staff amsterdam and other major European airports already for chaotic conditions and long wait times came. Schiphol boss Dick Benshop attributed the problems to a sharp increase in passenger numbers compared to the coronavirus years 2020 and 2021. They fell from 70 million in 2019 to just over 20 million, but rose again this year.