Amsterdam Airport is telling airlines to cut flights to avoid chaos

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has asked airlines to cancel flights over the weekend to avoid chaos due to overcrowding at Europe’s third busiest airport.

On Thursday, the airport said it took the measure because of staff shortages.

It comes after an unannounced strike by baggage handlers on April 23 exacerbated major delays and cancellations at the airport.

Schiphol said in an email to Reuters that it had “asked airlines to reduce the number of local departing passengers this weekend by canceling bookings and no new bookings from Schiphol in the May 2-8 period Accept”.

“This is an annoying but necessary measure to reduce the number of passengers,” it said.

The airport said it advised travelers to contact their airlines for information on specific flights, but was not available for further comment on the number of flights affected.

Last week, Schiphol said that “an increase in passenger numbers combined with a labor shortage means travelers may face longer than usual waits over the May bank holiday weekend”.

“Around 174,000 travelers will travel to, from or via Schiphol every day between April 23 and May 8,” she added.

“Although passenger numbers are still about 17 percent lower compared to 2019, visitor numbers will not be lower than they were three years ago.”

Airports from Dublin to Sydney and Manchester are struggling to meet growing passenger demand due to staff shortages and Covid-related absences.

Dutch news agency ANP reported that KLM, the Dutch arm of Air France-KLM airline, is expected to cancel several flights on Friday.

KLM could not be immediately reached for comment late Thursday.

– Additional reporting by Pól Ó Conghaile