Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport will place a further cap passenger departures during the winter season due to ongoing staffing issues and a lack of available security guards.
The latest passenger cap will limit the number of locally departing passengers per day by an average of 22 per cent, up from the 18 per cent reduction announced earlier this month.
The new restrictions will likely remain in place until the end of March 2023, however a review and possible tightening of measures will take place at the end of January.
In a statement released on Thursday (29 September) the airport acknowledged that airlines are “not happy” about the extended passenger cap and that it is working closely with labour unions and security companies to find “structural solutions to the staff shortage”.
Royal Schiphol Group COO Hanne Buis said: “We want to ensure the safety of employees and travellers, in addition to providing a more reliable airport process. This obviously affects travellers and airlines, which we of course consider very unfortunate.”
The Netherlands hub has been among many European airports hit by staff shortages. The airport’s CEO Dick Benschop resigned this month following a chaotic summer that saw multiple delays and flight cancellations.
Dutch carrier KLM has hit back at the “hopeless situation” at Schiphol, saying the latest restrictions “lack perspective”.
In a statement the carrier said: “Schiphol has repeatedly called on KLM and other airlines, and hence our passengers, to resolve this persistent problem. The ongoing constraints on passengers boarding locally is damaging our reputation among passengers who are keen and willing to travel after the extended Covid crisis.”
It went on to say: “Schiphol’s service standards – for airlines and their passengers – have been sub-standard for too long. This is damaging to KLM and is in stark contrast with the rising operational costs for the use of Schiphol, with increases of up to 37 per cent in the coming years. Moreover, it is harming KLM’s carefully developed reputation, with damages already amounting to more than €100 million.”
BTN Europe previously reported that KLM had introduced a temporary surcharge of €250 on some flights departing from Amsterdam Schiphol in a bid to mitigate congestion at the airport by stifling demand.
Following publication of the report on 28 September, the carrier informed BTN Europe on Thursday 29 September that it had removed the surcharge "promptly after an internal review".
In response to Schiphol’s latest measure, KLM said it has “no other choice but to further restrict ticket sales” and that staff are “doing their utmost on a day to day basis”.