Amsterdam airport strike: Flights disrupted as security and check-in staff walk out

Throughout the day, the security checks will be closed multiple times, for 33 minutes at a time

After dozens of flights were cancelled on Tuesday at Amsterdam Schiphol airport, passengers today face delays and disruption because of a strike by workers at the Dutch hub.

The airport, which is the second-busiest in continental Europe after Paris Charles de Gaulle, is expecting security, check-in and baggage staff to stop work.

The largest Dutch trade union, the FNV, which coordinated the strike of public transport workers on Tuesday, has called a strike of airport workers as part of its wider dispute over pension arrangements.

The airport is warning passengers due to travel today: “This may have consequences for your journey.”

It says: “Please take account for longer waiting times because of the strike. It might be possible that your flight will depart later.

“Of course, we will do everything we can to limit disruptions. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience.”

KLM, the Dutch airline based at Amsterdam, says: “Throughout the day, the security checks will be closed multiple times, for 33 minutes at a time.

“The closure of the security checks will rotate, so there is always a checkpoint open. However, this might lead to longer queues at the security check."

KLM is allowing passengers booked on Wednesday 29 May to cancel without penalty or switch to a later day.

The biggest UK airline operating to Amsterdam, easyJet, says: “We are working with authorities to minimise the impact of this strike action and plan to operate our full schedule.

“We recommend that all customers departing from Amsterdam should allow extra time to get through security. Our check-in and bag drop times will not be extended.”

Flybe, which cancelled more than 30 flights to and from Amsterdam on Tuesday, has so far grounded a round trip from Southampton to the Dutch capital today.

The Dutch rail operator, NS, is warning that rail services will be hit today as a knock-on effect of the industrial action on Tuesday.