Long queues continue at Schiphol despite new
security staff
Business
August 2, 2022
Travellers
faced long queues and missed flights at Schiphol airport on Monday, even though
some 200 new security staff had reportedly started work. Schiphol, which had
increased passenger numbers because of the increase in staff from August 1,
warned on its website that the airport would be extremely busy. Passengers have
been told not to come to the airport more than four hours before their flight.
Even four hours was not enough for Saskia from Waddinxveen, who was heading to
Vienna. ‘And we were not the only ones to miss our flight,’ she told the
Telegraaf. Others, such as the De Vries family who were heading for Corfu, only
made the flight because the plane was delayed. -ADVERTENTIE- A spokeswoman for
the airport told the paper that Monday’s staffing levels were ‘not as good as
expected’ but she again urged people not to come any earlier, as it only meant
longer queues would build up. On Tuesday too, the website said the airport was
‘busy’ for both departures and arrivals. Schiphol has asked airlines and travel
firms to slash flights to and from the airport because of the shortage of staff.
Last month, passenger numbers were cut by some 13,500 a day. Compensation The
problem is not confined to Schiphol, and passengers all over Europe have been
facing chaos. That, in turn, has boosted companies set up to help passengers
claim compensation for delays and missed flights in return for a percentage of
the cash. As Schiphol cancels hundreds of flights, what are your rights? One
company, Vlucht-vertraagd.nl, says it has submitted almost 70,000 claims so
far, totalling around €23 million. That is twice the number of claims submitted
in the same months in 2019. It, together with EUclaim, and Aviclaim have
submitted claims totalling €38 million, current affairs show Nieuwsuur
reported. Refunds Under EU legislation, passengers have the right to refunds
and compensation because of delays and cancellations. Airlines are required by
law to pay up, unless they can prove the problem was beyond their control. Paul
Vaneker of EUclaim told Nieuwsuur that airlines cannot always claim that they
are not responsible for airport problems. ‘They themselves have personnel
shortages,’ he said. ‘And if you don’t have your own staffing in order… then
you cannot claim the situation was beyond your control.’
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