Schiphol airport will maintain, at least until October, the limitations on the maximum number of daily passengers that can transit through the terminal. The same policy will be held by Heathrow Airport, which, after consultation with airlines, confirmed that it will maintain a maximum quota until October 29, when the summer season ends.
Schiphol continues with numbers similar to those of the winter season
Amsterdam-Schiphol, one of Europe’s largest airports, will allow a maximum of 67,500 domestic passengers a day through its halls during September. In October the number will increase, almost negligibly, to 69,500 a day. Schiphol has already informed the airlines that in at least the first two weeks of autumn that number will likely be exceeded by around 3,500 passengers a day.
According to the airport, its aim is to ensure the safety of passengers and employees. The slot coordinator, based on traffic estimates, will consult with the airlines. It will seek to ensure that the number of passengers matches the capacity of the security sector at any given moment.
The airport hired about 200 new security guards in August and expects another 80 to join in October. While the number of passengers per day should begin to decline after the summer season is over, fall travelers carry more items with them when passing through security, resulting in longer checkpoint delays.
Compensation for stranded passengers
Schiphol Airport also announced that it will introduce a scheme to compensate passengers who missed their flight between April 23 and August 11, 2022, due to delays at security checks. Expenses incurred to be rebooked onto another flight or other form of transportation (if they have chosen to travel to their destination by other means) may be requested to be covered. Accommodation expenses at or near the airport, and non-cancellable expenses lost at the destination, will also be paid.
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Dick Benschop, CEO of Schiphol, apologized for what happened: «Many people were looking forward to their vacations abroad, especially after two years of the pandemic. We are very sorry that they missed their flights because of us». Jeanine Janssen, the Ombudsman, added that «it is good that Schiphol is assuming its responsibility with consumers. We are proud to have been able to contribute to this solution.»
Heathrow to maintain quotas until October
Following consultation with airlines, London-Heathrow Airport has confirmed that it will extend the current capacity limits until October 29, when the summer season ends. Heathrow introduced capacity limits in July to avoid collapse during the vacations by balancing demand with available resources.
The airport notes that since then, the limit has resulted in fewer last-minute cancellations, higher punctuality, and shorter waits at baggage claim. Heathrow management indicated that capacity limits will be reviewed periodically and could be lifted sooner.
Heathrow’s CCO, Ross Baker, said in this regard that his «primary concern is to ensure our passengers receive reliable service. We want to remove the limit as soon as possible. We will only be able to do this when we are confident that everyone operating at the airport has the necessary resources.»
