Schiphol expects another busy, but manageable holiday weekend

Schiphol Airport is expecting another busy weekend due to the May holidays. While some vacationers are departing this weekend, others are also returning home, which means it can be busier at passport control.

"We expect it to be busy, but manageable," a spokesperson predicted.

The airport expects an average of around 70,000 departing passengers every day during the April/May holiday break, with a possible peak of 80,000 travelers per day. And then there will also be the passengers transferring at Schiphol, and those arriving at the airport as their destination, the spokesperson explains.

"For example, we expect more than 190,000 passengers in total today. With almost 70,000 arriving passengers and about 60,000 transfers." Those arriving at the airport who also have to show their passports may find themselves in longer lines, the spokesperson said.

Schiphol previously said that this April/May school holiday break was expected to be 10 percent busier compared to last year. Staff shortages at the airport, including at security checkpoints, led to long lines and cancelled flights during holiday periods two years ago.

Chief Financial Officer Robert Carsouw said in February that the airport has hired many more security guards to prevent a return of the chaos, such as what happened during the summer of 2022.