Spontaneous Strike Causes Huge Disruption at Amsterdam Airport

April 25, 2022

Strikes by the ground crew of KLM airlines led to flight cancellations and delays at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on Saturday.

Source dpa (TNS)

Amsterdam — Strikes by the ground crew of KLM airlines led to flight cancellations and delays at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on Saturday.

The airport called on travellers not to go to the airport until at least 3 pm ( 1300 GMT) for security reasons, as the terminal was overcrowded.

The strike by the baggage handlers comes on the first day of the Dutch spring holidays.

Travellers formed large queues at the check-in desks and security controls, while those whose flights had been cancelled crowded the train station counters, hoping to travel onward to places like Germany and France by train instead.

Around 150 KLM employees are on strike but the action is not coordinated by the unions, according to news agency ANP.

The operational director of KLM is in negotiations with the workers on strike. The Dutch airline said it acknowledges the high workload and staffing issues and is doing all it can to find a solution.