Schiphol will set a daily passenger ceiling in September and October. In September, no more than 67,500 locally departing travelers – not including transfer passengers – can depart per day. That number will increase by 2,000 a month later, when the autumn break has started, so the company will announce on Tuesday. The airport is setting the limits because there is not enough staff in security and baggage handling to escort a larger group of travelers to the aircraft.
Also read: Flying from Schiphol this summer? Then pay attention to this
Schiphol does state that additional security personnel will be available from August. In that month the airport applies a ceiling of 73,000 travelers per day, which is 5,500 more than in July. According to Schiphol, the fact that the passenger limit was lowered in September despite more security guards is due to “the seasonal effect”. In September, people on average take more clothes and shoes with them, which means that the baggage check takes longer.
The airport has been struggling with capacity problems for some time: too many travelers come for the number of employees available. This summer there are very long queues waiting for a flight almost every day. Sometimes travelers risk missing their flight for that reason. Several airlines have also moved their trip to another airport or were forced to cancel the trip. At the end of July, Schiphol advised travelers not to be present more than four hours before departure, in order to avoid greater chaos.