Schiphol warns travellers about long queues at security on Monday, the first day of the airport’s adjusted security setup. The airport has deployed extra office staff to support security teams. Staff members are also handing out water to people waiting in line.
A Schiphol spokeswoman says she cannot give an exact estimate of the queue length. “It is busy, and the waiting time at security checks is currently longer than usual,” she says. Her comments follow a report by De Telegraaf, in which travellers describe waiting for more than an hour.
Since Monday, Schiphol has switched from five security companies to three. The airport has created new subsidiaries with these companies, and Schiphol now holds an interest in them. Because of this change, many security guards have moved to a new employer.
The airport chose this method to gain more control over security. Schiphol wants to avoid a repeat of the long queues that stretched outside the departure halls in the summer of 2022. However, trade union FNV recently warned that the changes are causing unrest among security guards, partly due to unclear schedules. The union also reports ongoing concerns about high work pressure.
Schiphol does not confirm whether Monday’s long queues relate to the new structure. The spokeswoman says the airport is still assessing the situation.
The airport advises travellers to arrive on time: two hours before European flights and three hours before intercontinental flights. Travellers should also check current information through the Schiphol website or their airline.
@ANP | News Brainport
