KLM is cancelling 119 flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on 24 September as ground staff launch a six-hour strike over pay and working conditions.
The work stoppage, organized by Dutch unions FNV and CNV, runs from 06:00 to 12:00 local time and will mainly affect short-haul European services.
About 70 of the cancelled flights are being rescheduled, but significant disruption remains likely. Schiphol Airport has warned passengers to expect delays and last-minute changes, while KLM said affected travelers can rebook or claim EU compensation for delays exceeding three hours.
Strike Details and Union Demands
The strike covers baggage handlers, check-in staff and ramp workers who rejected KLM’s latest pay offer of a 2.25% wage increase over two years. Unions argue the proposal does not keep pace with inflation and warned of further strike action unless negotiations resume with concrete improvements.
“If our demands for fair wages and better conditions are not met, this will not be the last strike,” union leaders from FNV and CNV said in statements released ahead of the walkout. A second strike is already planned for 1 October, which would extend to eight hours.
Impact on Travelers
Schiphol has urged passengers to check their flight status on the airport website, the KLM app, or with their airline before traveling. Airport authorities said a large portion of KLM’s ground staff will temporarily stop work, leaving flights at risk of delay, change or cancellation throughout Wednesday morning.
The industrial action highlights continuing labor tensions across European aviation, where carriers face pressure from unions over pay and staffing while travelers contend with potential disruptions. KLM remains one of Europe’s largest airlines and has not confirmed whether long-haul routes will be affected beyond the rescheduled short-haul network.
The Dutch flag carrier has not commented on the possibility of additional cancellations but said it is “working to limit the impact on passengers” as negotiations with unions continue. Schiphol and KLM both advise travelers to allow extra time at the airport on 24 September.
