Schiphol boss apologizes for airport turmoil, but more flights diverted this weekend
2 years, 7 months ago

Schiphol boss apologizes for airport turmoil, but more flights diverted this weekend

NL Times  

Schiphol director Dick Benschop has apologized to travelers for the problems that arose at the airport in recent weeks. However, hiring and training security guards takes 12 weeks, also because background checks have to be completed before they are allowed to work at the airport. As a result, some flights will also have to divert to Rotterdam The Hague Airport and Eindhoven Airport next weekend. In addition, the salary offered to security guards and baggage handlers is also on the table, said Benschop.

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History of this topic

Schiphol plans to reorganize security could mean pricier tickets, longer lines
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Schiphol plans to reorganize security could mean pricier tickets, longer lines

NL Times  

Schiphol is planning to organize the hiring of security companies completely differently. “Since the announcement on Monday, we have been getting angry security guards on the phone,” said CNV director Erik Maas. I already have people on the phone who are going to look for another job because they will soon have to work at night instead of during the …

Schiphol workers worried about handling summer crowds
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Schiphol workers worried about handling summer crowds

NL Times  

Schiphol Airport is still struggling with staff shortages, and 88 percent of employees are, therefore, worried about handling the summer crowds this year, trade union FNV found in a survey of 427 employees. Schiphol security guard and FNV member Chiyo Blumming told NOS that she gets an email almost every day asking if she would like to work an extra …

Schiphol interim CEO will continue to lead the airport until March 1
1 year, 5 months ago

Schiphol interim CEO will continue to lead the airport until March 1

NL Times  

Ruud Sondag will continue to lead operations at Schiphol Airport until March 1 at the latest, the airport said in a statement on Monday. He was initially hired as the interim CEO with a 10-month contract ending on August 31, which the airport thought would give them enough time to find a permanent CEO. Sondag arrived at Schiphol after serving …

Schiphol says it's ready for summer: 26% more passengers expected daily versus 2022
1 year, 5 months ago

Schiphol says it's ready for summer: 26% more passengers expected daily versus 2022

NL Times  

Schiphol Airport is expecting a 26 percent increase in the number of passengers departing from the Amsterdam-area facility during the upcoming summer holiday compared to 2022. The airport said it is preparing to handle an average of 68,000 passengers passengers per day, with over 77,000 expected on peak days. After many coronavirus restrictions were lifted last year, people took to …

Big gaps in Schiphol security: Ex-workers keep access to entire airport
1 year, 8 months ago

Big gaps in Schiphol security: Ex-workers keep access to entire airport

NL Times  

Former Schiphol Airport employees often keep their uniforms and access passes, which remain active, according to an investigation by YouTube channel Vrije Vogels and Panorama. “In the end, nine anonymous ex-employees contributed to the story.” “Our whistleblower briefly worked at Schiphol, but his clothing and access pass is still in his possession,” Sven van der Meulen of Vrije Vogels said. …

Another Schiphol Airport staff shortage looming as engineer union sounds alarm
1 year, 10 months ago

Another Schiphol Airport staff shortage looming as engineer union sounds alarm

NL Times  

Schiphol Airport may soon face another staff shortage. Due to aging and a lack of enthusiasm among young people for technical professions, there will soon not be enough aviation technicians and ground engineers to keep airplanes maintained and flying, the aviation engineers’ union NVLT warned. “The NVLT is deeply concerned about the increasing shortage of aviation technicians in the Netherlands,” …

Schiphol holds job fair, more than 1300 visitors expected
1 year, 10 months ago

Schiphol holds job fair, more than 1300 visitors expected

NL Times  

Schiphol expects more than 1,300 visitors at the job fair the airport is holding on Saturday to recruit much-needed additional staff. Around 50 employers, including major handling companies such as Swissport and Aviapartner, will attend the event and provide information about vacancies. During the busy May holidays and summer, Schiphol may still have to limit the number of daily departures. …

Schiphol needs 800 more security guards by April to return to normal; Airlines sceptical
2 years ago

Schiphol needs 800 more security guards by April to return to normal; Airlines sceptical

NL Times  

By April 2023, Schiphol intends to recruit 800 additional security guards to work at the airport. Last month, Schiphol already announced that it would increase the hourly wages for security guards at the airport by 2.50 euros. The airport is facing "a great challenge" to accomplish the recruitment of 800 more guards while retaining current staff, union leader Joost van …

Schiphol security companies turning down applicants over long commute
2 years, 1 month ago

Schiphol security companies turning down applicants over long commute

NL Times  

Despite some 800 vacancies still open for security guards at Schiphol, security companies at the airport are turning away applicants because they live too far away, De Telegraaf reports. In August, Schiphol CEO Dick Benschop and financial chief Robert Carsouw said that money was not the problem in the airport’s struggle to fill vacancies. Lelystad man Bjorn Blom had applied …

Why one of Europe’s top airports has become a ‘crazy mess’
2 years, 2 months ago

Why one of Europe’s top airports has become a ‘crazy mess’

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Getty Images In different presentations across two days, Benschop openly acknowledged Schiphol’s “severe operational issues driven by staff shortages.” He said management is committed to fixing the problems by providing a “reliable and predictable” passenger experience, improving job conditions and worker pay and working with airlines to …

KLM CEO wants Schiphol to scrap passenger limit earlier than March
2 years, 2 months ago

KLM CEO wants Schiphol to scrap passenger limit earlier than March

NL Times  

Schiphol Airport should only be allowed to implement a lower limit on the number of departing travelers until the end of the year at the latest, said KLM CEO Marjan Rintel. The limit was extended because there are still frequent problems with the number of security guards working at Schiphol. Rintel said during the World Aviation Festival in Amsterdam that …

KLM cancels 34 more flights on Saturday as Schiphol chaos continues
2 years, 3 months ago

KLM cancels 34 more flights on Saturday as Schiphol chaos continues

Dutch News  

Dutch flag carrier KLM cancelled an additional 34 flights from Schiphol on Saturday following the airport authority’s decision to slash passenger numbers for the next six weeks because of staff shortages. ‘KLM is very disenchanted that Schiphol only indicated on Friday that it would not be able to handle the number of passengers boarding in Amsterdam on Saturday 17, Sunday …

KLM cancels 34 more flights on Saturday as Schiphol chaos continues
2 years, 3 months ago

KLM cancels 34 more flights on Saturday as Schiphol chaos continues

Dutch News  

Dutch flag carrier KLM cancelled an additional 34 flights from Schiphol on Saturday following the airport authority’s decision to slash passenger numbers for the next six weeks because of staff shortages. ‘KLM is very disenchanted that Schiphol only indicated on Friday that it would not be able to handle the number of passengers boarding in Amsterdam on Saturday 17, Sunday …

Dick Benschop steps down as head of Schiphol Airport after long lines this week
2 years, 3 months ago

Dick Benschop steps down as head of Schiphol Airport after long lines this week

NL Times  

Dick Benschop has announced his plans to step down as the CEO of Schiphol Airport. "There is a lot of attention, and also criticism, for the way in which Schiphol tackles the problems and about my responsibility as CEO," Benschop said, adding that it was his choice to step down. "Due to the situation and the continuing bad news, the …

Schiphol asks some airlines to cancel flights on Monday because of crowds
2 years, 3 months ago

Schiphol asks some airlines to cancel flights on Monday because of crowds

NL Times  

Schiphol Airport announced on Monday that it was asking airlines to cancel flights scheduled to depart that day between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. The primary airport in the Netherlands, and one of the largest in Europe, has been plagued all day with long lines of passengers queued up for hours at security security, particularly in Departures 1 and Departures …

Schiphol handling more passengers next month; Expect long lines on peak days
2 years, 4 months ago

Schiphol handling more passengers next month; Expect long lines on peak days

NL Times  

Schiphol will allow more departing passengers again from next week. The airport’s security checkpoint will be better staffed in August, so Schiphol is sticking to the plan to allow up to 73,000 passengers to depart daily, De Telegraaf reports. Despite the more wiggle room, Schiphol expects that there will still be long lines on peak travel days. “Friday, Sunday, and …

Schiphol workforce grows by 400, but many vacancies remain
2 years, 5 months ago

Schiphol workforce grows by 400, but many vacancies remain

NL Times  

Schiphol’s desperate search for new employees to fill staff shortages at the airport bears some fruit. Staff shortages, mainly in baggage handling and security, have regularly caused massively long queues at Schiphol since the start of the May vacation. Despite these new additions to the Schiphol workforce, there are still many open vacancies at the airport. “Per profession, it’s 100 …

Airlines want to move some Schiphol flights to Rotterdam; Groningen also available
2 years, 6 months ago

Airlines want to move some Schiphol flights to Rotterdam; Groningen also available

NL Times  

Rotterdam The Hague Airport has received an official request from several airlines to allow them to move their flights from Schiphol to the regional airport. According to the spokesperson, "a decision on the request does not have to take very long.” Relocating flights should relieve the pressure on Schiphol Airport, which is suffering from staff shortages, especially in security. Nevertheless, …

Busy arrival day expected at Schiphol due to Ascension Day long weekend
2 years, 6 months ago

Busy arrival day expected at Schiphol due to Ascension Day long weekend

NL Times  

Many passengers are expected again at Schiphol Airport on Sunday, because many people are returning after a long Ascension Day weekend. At the beginning of the May holiday, chaos ensued at the airport due to a strike caused by angry employees about the workload, which is high due to staff shortages. The coronavirus pandemic cost many airport staff their jobs …

Schiphol must prevent future chaos: Harbers
2 years, 7 months ago

Schiphol must prevent future chaos: Harbers

NL Times  

Minister Mark Harbers visited Schiphol Airport Saturday, urging the airport to do everything in its power to ensure the chaos of recent weeks does not repeat itself. Staff shortages and working conditions must be addressed, he said, according to the NOS. Although the coronavirus pandemic caused setbacks and there is currently a personnel shortage across many sectors, Harbers said this …

Union threatens "hot summer" if Schiphol doesn't improve working conditions
2 years, 7 months ago

Union threatens "hot summer" if Schiphol doesn't improve working conditions

NL Times  

Trade union FNV predicts a "hot summer" at Schiphol if airport chief Dick Benschop does not improve the working conditions of the staff. FNV also insists on a once-off holiday peak allowance of 200 euros per week for employees in baggage handling, security, and cleaning. Due to the chaos at Schiphol this past week and a half of the May …

Schiphol open to compensating airlines: industry assoc.
2 years, 7 months ago

Schiphol open to compensating airlines: industry assoc.

NL Times  

Schiphol will "look positively" at a claim for compensation by airlines for the delays over the past few days. The airport promised this in discussion with Barin, the industry association for airlines in the Netherlands, said chairman Marnix Fruitema. Fruitema said that all 38 airlines affiliated with Barin support the plan to claim damages from Schiphol. Then they'll also talk …

KLM preemptively cancels dozens more weekend flights fearing Schiphol crowds
2 years, 7 months ago

KLM preemptively cancels dozens more weekend flights fearing Schiphol crowds

NL Times  

Dutch airline KLM will cancel at least 47 flights scheduled for Saturday and Sunday due to the expected crowds at Schiphol Airport. Airlines responded to the call by cancelling flights, rebooking passengers, and relocating some flights to nearby Rotterdam The Hague Airport, according to a spokesperson for Schiphol. Some airlines are still investigating which flights can be moved, but Schiphol's …

KLM cancels 60 flights at Schiphol's request; Corendon diverts to Rotterdam
2 years, 7 months ago

KLM cancels 60 flights at Schiphol's request; Corendon diverts to Rotterdam

NL Times  

KLM canceled at least 60 flights at Schiphol on Friday morning. Travel organization Corendon is moving at least two vacation flights from Schiphol to Rotterdam The Hague airport to relieve some pressure on the Amsterdam airport, NOS reports. On Thursday, Schiphol asked airlines to cancel flights next week and make no new bookings for May 2 to 8 to prevent …

Flights disrupted at Schiphol and Eindhoven airports due to snow
3 years, 10 months ago

Flights disrupted at Schiphol and Eindhoven airports due to snow

NL Times  

The winter weather has affected not only public transport in the Netherlands but also the flight schedule of Schiphol and Eindhoven Airport, among others. No flights will be departing from Eindhoven until at least 1 p.m. Incoming flights will be diverted to Cologne Airport. Although several flights have been delayed at Schiphol on Sunday, closing the airport is not in …

Schiphol Group suffers €246 million loss; To cut hundreds of jobs
4 years, 3 months ago

Schiphol Group suffers €246 million loss; To cut hundreds of jobs

NL Times  

Due to the coronavirus crisis, the Royal Schiphol Group suffered a loss of 246 million euros in the first half of this year. The group is therefore cutting expenses, and that includes cutting jobs, the Schiphol Group said with the presentation of their interim figures on Friday. "The job impact is still uncertain, but it is expected to be in …

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