How Airlines Are Coping With Chaos At Schiphol Airport

Airlines flying out of the Netherlands' #Schiphol airport are requesting that aircraft be diverted to nearby airports after the site was severely disrupted. According to the NL Times, Rotterdam, The Hague Airport has received an official request from many airlines to shift their operations to the airport.

Staff shortages at Schiphol Airport have been a major issue in recent months, coinciding with an increase in travel demand. A fast fix that could help relieve the burden is to reroute aircraft from the airport to other smaller airports.

According to a spokeswoman at The Hague Airport, the airport could only handle "a few flights a day." They continued, saying, "Both in terms of noise standards and in terms of manpower, our options are limited."

Airport in the area Groningen Airport is located in Groningen, the Netherlands. Eelde's director has also stated that if given ample notice and time to prepare, the airport could accept up to 20 flights per day. During the busy summer season, the transfer of services could assist lessen travel interruption.

After more than two years of low demand due to the pandemic, Schiphol Airport has experienced a considerable increase in passenger numbers in the run-up to this summer. In April 2022, almost four million passengers flew to, from, or through Schiphol. That number reached about 0.8 million in April 2021, and 100,000 in April 2020. Despite its great performance, that number still falls short of the 6.1 million passengers handled by the airport in the same period last year.

In comparison to 2021, the number of commercial flights to and from Schiphol increased by 144% to 33,421. The total number of cargo flights was 1,467, a decrease of 29% from 2021 but still 31% more than in 2019. 2.6 million people travelled to, from, or via Schiphol during the May holiday in 2022.

KLM stated last week that it will temporarily cease ticket sales for flights departing from Schiphol in the coming days. Because of the massive crowds at its home base airport, the second-largest in the European Union, the airline announced the move.

The airport has launched a strategy to alleviate summer traffic congestion and delays. The plan comprises of four points: hiring more security guards, improving Schiphol's attractiveness as a location to work, optimising passenger flow, and reaching agreements with airlines about flight planning, which will result in fewer flights.

The airport will concentrate its efforts on increasing the number of security professionals on staff. Various recruitment initiatives are underway, and a career fair will be held on June 11 at Schiphol. A national marketing effort will also be launched to attract additional individuals for janitorial and luggage handling jobs.

"At the airport on time, but not too early," the airport cautioned travellers in April. In general, check in two hours before a flight inside Europe and three hours before a journey across the Atlantic. These times are subject to change, so please verify with your airline for the most up-to-date information. The check-in counters may be closed if you arrive too early."