Buis has been a member of the Schiphol Board of Directors since 1 June 2020 and was appointed May 31, 2024. She and the other members of the management board (supported by the supervisory board) were at odds about how the ins and outs at the airport should be managed.
Heavy criticism for queues
That is no small matter because the airport is under heavy fire because there is a maximum number of passengers that can fly per day. This was set due to the shortage of staff, which in 2022 caused long queues at the security checks.
This led, among other things, to the departure of CEO Dick Benschop. Ruud Sondag has been interim CEO since November 1, 2022. He and financial director Robert Carsouw now temporarily form the management.
No further explanation
This week, the airport announced that the limit on the number of passengers will expire from March. However, the airport does not yet dare to give any guarantees that everything will run smoothly again during the coming May holiday.
It is not clear whether the difference of opinion that led to the dismissal of Buis has to do with this. A spokesman for the airport says that both parties have agreed not to provide any further explanation.
No other option
In recent weeks, ‘intensive’ attempts have been made to close the gap, but ‘despite joint efforts’ this has not succeeded. “As a result, the Supervisory Board sees no other option than to terminate the employment contract with Hanne Buis,” the airport reports in a press release.
It is unclear what Buis, who therefore still had a contract until the end of May of next year, will receive in severance pay. The spokesperson would not comment on that. In 2021, the most recent year for which an annual report is available, Buis a fixed salary of 377,064 euro.
Buis worked for the Royal Schiphol Group for eighteen years. During that time she held various positions, such as top woman at Lelystad Airport.
