As the May holidays draw to a close, Schiphol Airport is preparing for another busy weekend. Other Dutch airports have offered to help in whatever way they can, but airport management has failed to rule out the possibility that airlines could be asked to scrap some flights.

Schiphol prepares for crowds as May holidays come to an end

Children across the Netherlands return to school on Monday, meaning this weekend will see hundreds of families hop on a flight and make the trek back home. Schiphol Airport has struggled to keep up with passenger numbers throughout the school holidays, as the airport continues to face severe staff shortages after the coronavirus pandemic as a result of disputes over salaries and work contracts. 

Last weekend, Schiphol made the controversial decision to ask airlines to scrap some outgoing flights in order to reduce passenger numbers over what was set to be another weekend of long queues and chaos. One week on, airport management has refused to confirm whether or not this would happen again. "At the moment it is not yet possible to answer that question in black and white with a yes or no,” one spokesperson told the press.

A spokesperson for KLM claims that Schiphol has asked the airline to look into making changes to its scheduling this weekend, while TUI and Corendon have taken the decision to redirect some flights to Rotterdam. Other airports in the Netherlands, including Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Groningen Airport Eelde, and Eindhoven Airport, have offered to take over at least 35 flights this weekend in order to alleviate some of the pressure. 

Thousands of travellers submit compensation claims

Passengers flying via Schiphol have faced severe delays and lengthy queues over the past two weeks, and thousands of holidaymakers have already submitted their compensation claims to the airport after their flights were cancelled or delayed. Since KLM baggage handlers went on strike on April 23, consumer rights organisations Aviclaim and EUclaim have received around 5.000 requests.

Airport management is currently undergoing talks with various trade unions to settle the ongoing disputes with workers and tackle the current staff shortages. Schiphol CEO, Dick Benschop, has also announced that the airport is looking into ways to avoid the same issues arising over the busy summer months.

Thumb: GeorgiosKostomitsopoulos via Shutterstock.