Netherlands' Main Airport Asks Airlines to Cancel Flights Due to Lack of Staff - Photos, Videos

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Netherlands' main airport, Schiphol, located near Amsterdam, asked several airlines on Monday to cancel flights due to a shortage of security personnel and associated long queues.

"Staffing levels at security today are lower than what Schiphol had requested of the security companies. As a result, there is a shortage of security personnel and the number of waiting travellers is increasing, especially in Departures 3. Schiphol has asked several airlines to cancel some flights today between 16:00 [14:00 GMT] and 23:00 [21:00 GMT]," the airport said in a statement.

This is not the first time the airport was forced to take such a measure. This summer, Schiphol canceled hundreds of flights due to a lack of staff and even imposed a passenger flow limit to avoid queues.

It's very busy at Schiphol today. Staffing levels at security are lower than what we had requested of the security companies. Schiphol has asked several airlines to cancel flights between 16:00 and 23:00. More information: https://t.co/i835Wz91Mv

— Schiphol (@Schiphol) September 12, 2022

A queue with no end at #Schiphol airport - aka covid superspreader pic.twitter.com/gHJgKgeiD2

— Daphne Tolis (@daphnetoli) September 12, 2022

Never ending queue at #Schiphol. Lifting my phone to take a photo and see if I can find the damn tail of this nightmare.

We should have been informed by email @aegeanairlines. This is not normal. pic.twitter.com/8aweUG5mZ3

— Daphne Tolis (@daphnetoli) September 12, 2022

The biggest queue I have ever seen in my life is at Schiphol airport and extends a few miles away from the airport’s entrance. Fast lanes have been cancelled for all airlines by @Schiphol I am told by @aegeanairlines pic.twitter.com/tJFLlwNJ6N

— Daphne Tolis (@daphnetoli) September 12, 2022

Global airports and airlines have struggled to operate amid labor shortages following the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, a huge number of jobs have been cut in the face of border closures, which has eventually led to significant disruptions in airport operations. Moreover, Western sanction against Russia over its special military operation in Ukraine have resulted in inflation and subsequent job cuts, low wages and the deterioration of working conditions.