PostedSeptember 12, 2022, 7:36 PM
AmsterdamLong queues return to Schiphol Airport
Understaffed for the security service, Amsterdam airport is facing a large number of waiting passengers and has asked companies to cancel flights on Monday.
Long queues and traveler frustration due to a shortage of security personnel are back at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
AFP
Long queues and traveler frustration over a shortage of security personnel are back at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, one of the busiest in Europe and which on Monday asked to airlines to cancel flights. “After weeks of improvement, Schiphol did not expect to have to take these measures,” airport management said in a statement.
The group explained that there were fewer personnel than requested from the security companies. Due to a shortage of agents, “the number of waiting passengers is increasing”, especially in terminal 3. Schiphol was therefore forced to ask certain airlines, whose passengers were to depart from the terminal in question, to cancel flights on Monday between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Like many other airports in Europe, Schiphol has experienced significant disruption in recent months due to staff shortages as the airline industry recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. In an attempt to reduce traveler wait times, the airport has capped passenger numbers since July. He had also promised staff bonuses for the busy summer months.
Employees went elsewhere
The main Dutch union says the return of long queues is due to the abolition of summer pay, which has caused many security workers to leave their posts after finding work elsewhere. The airport said its teams are “working hard” to ensure everyone can travel today, warning that it was “possible” for travelers to miss their flights due to long wait times.
“The airport treats people even worse than animals.”
Many of them took to social media and posted photos of the long queues. “Insane queue at Schiphol again today. This needs to stop,” wrote a traveler on Twitter. The airport treats people “even worse than animals”, judged another on the same social network.
Travelers who missed their flight due to long waiting times at security can report to Schiphol with their compensation claim, the airport said. Airlines that comply with the request to cancel flights will be compensated, the airport management also promised.
(AFP)