A Schiphol spokesperson explains that the airport had asked for more security officers from security companies. There could be several reasons why fewer people got to work. For example, it could be that more security guards called in sick, but the spokesperson cannot indicate whether this is the case.
Due to staff shortages in security and baggage handling, chaotic scenes were more frequent this year at Schiphol. The last few days it was somewhat quieter, partly due to the measures that Schiphol had taken. Then, according to the airport, people did not have to queue outside, even though there were slightly more departing travelers than the almost 50,000 on Saturday.
Too optimistic
Schiphol had warned on its website earlier on Saturday that travelers might have to wait outside under the canopy. That turned out to be an overly optimistic estimate. In practice, people also had to stand outside the roofs. The latter also emerges from photos that people have posted on social media.
“The line even starts outside the tent. Have been in line for over 180 minutes! What a misery!” tweeted an indignant traveler, for example, with photos of large throngs of people in and in front of the airport.
Someone also posted a photo of a lot of suitcases left behind, with the caption “You are ashamed.” The suitcase problem has been going on for some time, but Schiphol has no longer provided figures about how many orphaned suitcases it concerns in recent weeks.
Sunday another peak day
The airport expects another peak day on Sunday, both in terms of the number of departing and arriving travelers. This means that the rows may then have to be led outside again. The decisive factor for the waiting times, however, seems to be whether there are enough security guards at work, and the Schiphol spokesperson is not yet able to make an estimate.
Travelers are advised to arrive at the airport no earlier than four hours before departure. If you are too early, your check-in counter or baggage drop-off will not be open yet. According to Schiphol, you then have to wait unnecessarily, and the airport tries to prevent that.