AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS — Flight cancellations at Dutch flag carrier KLM have surpassed 225 in the past few weeks as labor shortages hit Schiphol International Airport.
The Air France-KLM Group member carrier met Airport labor representatives last weekend to find a solution to the problem.
A week ago, on April 30 and May 1, 75 flights were canceled just in two days due to the lack of airport security personnel, cleaners, and other personnel. Before that, the airline had to cancel 150 KLM flights over four days from April 23 due to a strike by the airline's own ground staff.
“Passengers should not be the victims of the personnel problems at Schiphol. Additional cancellations are no long-term solution to solving the staff shortages,”
KLM said.
KLM has also stated that it has been in talks with Schiphol management about compensation and plans to discuss the situation further once the May holiday season is over.
The FNV union said things could worsen without an agreement on working conditions, with many employees likely to quit just as passenger numbers buoyed by the easing of travel curbs surge toward the summer peak.
KLM has also stated that it has been in talks with Schiphol management about compensation and plans to discuss the situation further once the May holiday season is over.
The FNV union said things could worsen without an agreement on working conditions, with many employees likely to quit just as passenger numbers buoyed by the easing of travel curbs surge toward the summer peak.
“We do not expect the staff shortage to be resolved before the summer, but we do expect the quality of employment and the wellbeing of current employees to be protected,”
FNV campaign leader Joost van Doesburg said Wednesday.