Airmageddon, after new chaos resigns CEO of Amsterdam airport

Those who thought that the chaos at Amsterdam airport was a reminder of an out-of-character summer were wrong. Yesterday (Sept. 14) it reached levels, perhaps, not even touched at the height of summer traffic. Social media was flooded with photos and videos testifying to the absurd situation, with the queue starting 4 km outside the airport: all because of the lack of personnel.

If flights are canceled in London to keep quiet during national mourning, strikes in Paris and Frankfurt leave thousands of passengers stranded, the situation in the Dutch capital is increasingly critical.

Schipol CEO resigned

Nearly 5.3 million passengers flew to, from or to Schiphol in August 2022. In August 2021 that number was 3.8 million, in August 2020 1.9 million, and 6.8 million passengers in August 2019. The number of commercial flights to and from Schiphol was 37,730 (+18% compared to 2021, +63% compared to 2020, and -16% compared to 2019). So as you can see, the numbers are up compared to the summer of last year, but still much lower than before the pandemic.

After weeks of relative calm, the long lines returned to the airport on September 5 and then again on September 12. And just last Monday, passengers had to wait in line for up to three hours to access security screening. Airport asked airlines to cancel flights, angering carriers As was already the case this summer at London Heathrow.

Dick Benschop, CEO of the airport, announced his plans to step down from the position. The situation worsened at the exact moment when the incentive of nearly 6 euros per hour that airport workers were receiving in their base pay was lost.

• airmageddon