Due to a lack of new employees, Schiphol airport may find itself forced to limit the number of travellers departing from the airport in the May holidays and over the summer.
Are we surprised? Yes, actually — because back in January, Schiphol’s CEO Ruud Sondag had announced the end of passenger restrictions. So, what has changed?
Hundreds of employees needed
While Schiphol has done its part to fight staff shortages by hiring new security guards, the ball now lies in the court of the handling companies — who are lacking hundreds of employees.
The handling staff, employed by airlines or handling companies at Schiphol, are responsible for tasks such as cleaning aeroplanes and baggage handling. 🛄
It’s up to these parties to come up with a solution, says Schiphol, who has given the companies involved an ultimatum.
“If the problem is not solved within a few weeks, [we] will have to intervene again,” said CEO Ruud Sondag in an interview — by putting a cap on the number of daily travellers.
A structural deficit
To deal with Schiphol’s high number of yearly passengers, the handling companies must increase their number of workers, ASAP.
Last year, 52.5 million passengers travelled to, from or via Schiphol. That’s a 106% increase compared to 2021 (25.5 million travellers) but still 27% fewer than in 2019 (71.7 million travellers). https://t.co/DUC5AvwrjA— Schiphol (@Schiphol) January 9, 2023
As the NOS reports, low wages and moderate working conditions are creating a structural deficit of 300 to 500 workers and making it more attractive for existing staff to leave in the upcoming months.
But due to tight budgets, the airlines and handling companies are not willing to pay higher salaries.
READ MORE | Chaos at Schiphol: why the biggest Dutch airport is struggling so much
Sondag highlights the fact that “the package of employment conditions for [handling staff] is simply not attractive enough,” especially when, after wage increase, “a security guard now earns €17 per hour, a handler only €12.”
What do you think about Schiphol limiting the number of daily travellers? Tell us in the comments!