Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s busiest, will compensate passengers who missed flights due to huge queues that marred a chaotic summer, its management said in a statement. Like many other airports in Europe, Schiphol, KLM’s main hub, has experienced significant disruption in recent months due to staff shortages as the airline industry recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Many people were really looking forward to their holidays abroad, especially after two years of Covid. We are very sorry that some people missed their flight due to the long line at security.Dick Benschop, CEO of Schiphol Airport, commented in a press release issued Thursday evening. The waiting time between arrival and boarding at the airport increased to five hours on some days, causing scenes of chaos during the height of the summer season.
New flight and hotel expenses are reimbursed
A compensation system developed in consultation with a Dutch consumer group will compensate travelers who missed their flights between April 23 and August 11, a Dutch airport said. These costs may include finding and booking alternative flights or transport, as well as accommodation costs near Schiphol.
“Schiphol will implement a program for passengers who were once at the airport between April 23, 2022 and August 11, 2022, but who missed their flight due to exceptional waiting times at security screening. Travelers have until September 30 to apply for a refund“, the airport said on its Twitter account.
Schiphol has been limiting passenger numbers since July and says the measure will continue until at least October in an effort to reduce queues as “Almost everyone at the airport is understaffed“. Similar measures were taken at Frankfurt and London-Heathrow airports, forcing airlines to cancel some flights.
Source: Le Figaro
