On busy days (13, 14, 18, 19, 20 and 23 July) it is still possible to book flights from Amsterdam at Schiphol. Every day, an average of 13,500 passengers have to be refused, so why is it still possible to book?
An example: if you want to fly from Schiphol to Malaga on 14 July, you can choose KLM, EasyJet or Transavia. Then you have lost 300 to 500 euros. On other dates, this flight ticket costs about 100 euros.
Hendrik Noorderhaven, director of EUclaim, which helps injured passengers: “A few weeks ago, KLM said: We no longer accept reservations, but you can always book without any problems. So this is ridiculous.”
The slot coordinator announced on Monday that KLM will have to cut around 7,000 seats a day in July. And with that, more than half of the canceled passenger seats are at the expense of KLM, Schiphol’s largest slot user.
No cancellation required
Even on the busiest days, flights can be booked with KLM, for example from Schiphol. The airline says it has a limit on ticket sales, but that is no longer the case as it no longer sells tickets from Amsterdam.
KLM calculates what Schiphol’s measures mean for the airline and is therefore still selling a limited number of tickets. The airline does not expect it to be necessary to cancel existing reservations on a large scale.
It is also possible to book with Transavia from Amsterdam. According to a spokesperson, why this is still possible is a technical story. The airline says people are no longer booking, partly because of the high prices, especially on busy days. Transavia has not yet indicated how many seats will be cancelled.
EasyJet, Schiphol’s third-largest user, said Monday it will cancel about 10% of its flights. The airline says it is currently updating its flight schedule. However, the airline expects that the vast majority of existing flights from Schiphol can be resumed again and that reservations are therefore still possible.
Sunweb, Corendon and TUI also continue to offer holiday packages from Schiphol. According to them, it is still possible to book, because they do not yet know the capacity of Schiphol. Only when tour operators have clear which adjustments are needed do they adjust their offer.
‘Net size’
Schiphol is not surprised and recalls that the responsibility for reducing passenger numbers rests with airlines and travel providers. “The measure is clear and we have no reservations,” said a spokesperson.
It should be noted that the vast majority of passengers can still fly from Schiphol, according to aviation economist Joris Melkert of TU Delft. “About 20% of the passengers cannot travel, the rest can. And those tickets have to be sold, because that’s how airlines make money. This is not strange.”
The higher prices do not come as a surprise to Melkert: “Due to reduced capacity, flying has become a rarer commodity, causing prices to rise rapidly. Airlines are also trying to limit the damage there.”
This week passengers will probably hear whether they can leave Schiphol in July. The airport is expected to announce next week that it will welcome fewer passengers at the airport in August.
Source: NOS
Smith Charles is a talented entertainment journalist and author at The Nation View. He has a passion for all things entertainment and writes about the latest movies, TV shows, music, and celebrity news. He’s known for his in-depth interviews with actors, musicians, and other industry figures, and his ability to provide unique perspectives on the entertainment industry.
