Still very busy at Schiphol, but ‘people want to cooperate’ | Inland

Schiphol expects both arrivals and departures on Sunday. An airport spokesman said it is estimated that 190,000 passengers, about 10,000 more than Friday, will depart and arrive throughout the day. He estimates that there is still a lot to do, which is also apparent from the passengers’ messages to the airport’s online customer service.

In the departure halls are announced every so often that people have to take off their coats “well in advance” in order to make the situation at the security check as smooth as possible. Syrup waffles are also handed out to the waiting people.

It is still manageable, says the security guard. There are, however, peak moments, when an enormous stream of passengers accumulates and things get stuck. He saw this happen, for example, during an evening shift earlier this week. But the situation was quickly resolved, according to the man. A KLM employee confirms the picture of a busy, but manageable Sunday. “It runs smoothly,” she says.

No one had to queue outside yet in the early morning hours, but this changed after 10am. The line then continued outside the tents erected by the airport, raining down travelers trying to get through security.

It has been very busy at the airport lately. This is partly due to staff shortages in baggage handling and security. Passengers sometimes had to queue for hours, causing problems such as missing their flight. For example, one of the busiest moments on Thursday morning was around 5 a.m., when the line, according to a KLM employee, was all the way to the highway. She also reported that she had been verbally abused a few times. KLM has reduced the sale of tickets for flights from Schiphol until Sunday due to the large crowds.

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