Unwarned employee strike, chaos at Amsterdam airport

2022-04-23 18:13:20Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Unwarned employee strike, chaos at Amsterdam airport

Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport called on travellers to stay away for several hours on Saturday, after a staff strike caused chaos at Europe's third busiest airport.

"The terminal is very crowded at the moment... Schiphol calls on travelers to stop coming to the airport," airport authorities said in a statement issued shortly before noon.

Almost three hours later the airport said passengers were welcome again, but would still face long wait times and delays, or possible cancellations.

Police briefly closed highway exits to the airport on Saturday afternoon.

A Schiphol spokesman said the temporary closure was necessary to guarantee safety and provide the best possible service for thousands of frustrated passengers on their often delayed flights.

Baggage processors for KLM, the Dutch arm of airline Air France-KLM, entered a previously unannounced strike on Saturday to push demands for higher wages and better working conditions.

KLM ground staff handle about half of all luggage coming through Schiphol, Europe's third busiest airport after Paris Charles de Gaulle and London Heathroe.

 


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