Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Milo Boyd

Amsterdam flights continue to be capped as airport extends rules until next year

Planned services out of Amsterdam's main airport will be cancelled after management extended its flight cap.

Earlier this year Schiphol Airport announced that daily flights would be reduced by around 20% until the end of October due to staffing issues.

As the number of security personnel at the travel hub are not suitably bolstered yet, that cap will now remain in place until the end of March.

Around 10,000 fewer passengers will make their way through the airport each day for the next five months.

The cap is likely to push up the price of tickets to the Dutch capital as supply is reduced, while demand to visit the cultural hub is likely to be high post-lockdown.

The Amsterdam airport's cap will continue until March (Getty Images)

This summer the Amsterdam airport became notorious for hosting very long queues for check-in and security, with lines regularly stretching out of the terminal.

Much like Heathrow Airport in the UK, Schiphol's management is hoping to avoid such scenes in the future by limiting the number of passengers coming through.

Hanne Buis, COO at Royal Schiphol Group, said: "Keeping to a maximum number of travellers is vital. 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. Together with the security companies and unions, we are working hard on making structural improvements – a daunting task in a very tight labour market.

"It's something to be realistic about. That's why it will only become clear later this year whether more is possible after January."

Around 10,000 fewer passengers will move through the airport each day due to the cap (Getty Images/Image Source)

The airport's leaders says they are working with unions and security companies "on structural solutions to the staff shortage."

Efforts include better rosters, improved rest rooms and better wages for security company employees, they say.

According to unions, the airport offered an extra €5.25 per hour bonus in July and August which initially attracted many to the role.

However, with this now gone, many have rapidly left the team, resulting in Schiphol having to cut numbers once again.

The the independent slot coordinator is due to start talks with all airlines that use the airport to "arrive at the required capacity reduction."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.