JC. Princen The airport outside of Amsterdam, one of Europe’s biggest air hubs, is seeing long queues due to a staff shortage.
Due to a security guard shortage, Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport will restrict daily passenger counts by 18% until the end of October, airport management announced on Friday.
The airport has already decreased passenger numbers since July, but now intends to reduce them considerably more, from 67,500 in September to 54,500, and from 69,500 in October to 57,500.
“The reduction is important to ensure the safety of our passengers and employees,” Royal Schiphol Group Chief Operating Officer Hanne Buis stated.
KLM, the airport’s largest user, said it was “disappointing” that the airport “would again impose these measures at such short notice.”
“The actions will have far-reaching effects for our passengers, staff, and Schiphol’s and thereby KLM’s national and international reputation,” the airline said.
The CEO of Schiphol Airport has stepped down.
The announcement comes a day after airport CEO Dick Benschop announced his resignation.
“There is a lot of attention, as well as criticism, for the way Schiphol is addressing challenges and for my role as CEO,” Benschop said in a statement on Thursday.
“I’m making room on my own initiative to allow Schiphol the space to start over,” he explained.
Over the summer, the major aviation hub on the outskirts of the Dutch capital was plagued by long lines and mounds of unclaimed baggage.
“Improvements were done during the summer, but they remain insufficient,” said Jaap Winter, chair of Schiphol’s supervisory board.
The increase in air travel demand came after airlines and airports cut employees during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Schiphol hosted around 72 million passengers at its peak in 2019.
Source: dw.com
