KLM Cancels Dozens of Flights Amid Schiphol Ground Staff Strike

AMSTERDAM— Dutch carrier KLM (KL) will cancel dozens of flights on Wednesday, September 17, after ground staff at Schiphol Airport (AMS) confirmed plans for strike action. The airline said disruptions could extend beyond the strike window, affecting operations throughout the day.

Earlier this month, KLM (KL) reached a partial labor agreement with several unions, but others remain in dispute. The failure to bring all parties to the table has led to ongoing walkouts, forcing the airline to adjust its schedules.

Photo: By Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland – KLM Cityhopper Embraer 190; PH-EZP@AMS;15.04.2013/705by, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26631779

KLM Cancels Flights Amid Strike

KLM’s most recent agreement with certain unions was intended to resolve wage and workload concerns, but two groups not included in the deal have continued strike action.

This fracture in negotiations has resulted in recurring disruptions, underscoring the tension between ground staff and management.

Last week, on September 10, a two-hour strike at Schiphol (AMS) forced KLM (KL) to cancel 100 flights.

The cancellations disrupted travel for around 27,000 passengers, according to Reuters, highlighting the scale of impact even a short work stoppage can cause at one of Europe’s busiest airports.

KLM Check In; Photo- Skytrax

Impact on Passengers

The airline has begun warning travelers of possible disruptions. Barry ter Voert, KLM’s chief experience officer, sent a customer advisory email noting that September 17 flights and those “around the day of the strike” could be affected.

He added that the scale of the disruption may delay the usual process of rebooking passengers onto alternative flights.

For those scheduled to travel during the strike, this means facing potential cancellations, delays, or last-minute adjustments. Whether journeys are for leisure, family visits, or business commitments, the uncertainty places a significant burden on passengers.

Efforts to Manage Disruptions

KLM (KL) has pledged to rebook travelers on the next available alternative flights when necessary.

However, with high passenger volumes at Schiphol (AMS) and continued industrial action, delays in assistance are expected.

The airline has apologized for the inconvenience and emphasized its commitment to minimizing the strike’s impact, though it acknowledges that service disruptions are unavoidable.

Photo: KLM

KLM 161 Winter Destinations

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will operate flights to 161 destinations between October 26, 2025, and March 28, 2026.

This includes 92 within Europe and 69 intercontinental, creating around 25,000 possible connections through Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).

Compared to the previous winter schedule, KLM (KL) is boosting capacity by 6%. The most notable increases are on routes to India (+28% year-on-year) and the Caribbean (+17%), reflecting strong demand in both markets.

Network Growth and New Routes

KLM will add two new destinations this winter. Weekly flights to Kittilä (KTT) in Finland will begin in late November, targeting travelers heading to Lapland for winter tourism. Barbados (BGI) also returns to the network, served three times weekly in combination with Georgetown (GEO) in Guyana.

Destinations launched during the summer will now carry into the winter season for the first time. In Europe, Exeter (EXT) in the UK and Ljubljana (LJU) in Slovenia will continue with daily service from Amsterdam (AMS).

Intercontinental additions include Hyderabad (HYD) in India and Barbados (BGI) paired with Georgetown (GEO). Starting late February, San Diego (SAN) will also join the schedule with three weekly flights.

Photo: By Golfgenesis – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50647185

More Flights on High-Demand Routes

To match strong seasonal demand, KLM will boost service to several key destinations. From early January to late February, both Delhi (DEL) and Panama City (PTY) will see three additional weekly flights, bringing each to 10 weekly frequencies.

From mid-December, Bangkok (BKK) service will increase to 10 weekly flights, while Curaçao (CUR) will rise to 11.

Cape Town (CPT) will be served 11 times weekly across the entire season, one more than last year. Other destinations with added capacity include Boston (BOS), Miami (MIA), Portland (PDX), San Francisco (SFO), Bangalore (BLR), Aruba (AUA), Bonaire (BON), São Paulo (GRU), Lima (LIM), and San José (SJO).

In Europe, Ibiza (IBZ) will remain on the schedule later into the year, with flights continuing through November and December, resuming again in February and March 2026. Additional flights will also operate to Southern European destinations like Naples (NAP) and Athens (ATH), as well as Bordeaux (BOD), Gothenburg (GOT), Poznan (POZ), Cork (ORK), Leeds (LBA), and Vienna (VIE).

Fleet Updates for the Winter

KLM expects delivery of its 15th and final Boeing 787-10 (Dreamliner) this winter, enhancing capacity on intercontinental routes.

The airline will also introduce three new Airbus A321neo aircraft into its fleet. These modern aircraft are designed to operate more efficiently, with reduced fuel burn and lower noise levels, aligning with KLM’s sustainability goals.

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