KLM cancels additional summertime European flights 

KLM Due to what it termed as “relentless” pressure brought on by staff shortages at Schiphol Airport and at KLM, Royal Dutch Carriers has joined other major European airlines in reducing flights throughout the summer.

“Through 28 August, we will cancel 10 to 20 return flights to European destinations every day,” the airline said in a statement published on July 8, 2022.

“KLM’s measures are intended to restore operational stability, thereby relieving pressure on staff at Schiphol and KLM,” the statement continued.

Staff shortages have made the industry’s wave of operational issues for many airlines, which have been sparked by the unexpected return of travel demand, even worse.

“We will also strongly restrict the sale of remaining seats on KLM and KLM Cityhopper flights to European destinations. This will free up space for customers who are rebooked if their flight is canceled,” said KLM in the statement.

In order to accommodate passengers who need to be rebooked after missing their flight due to lengthy security lines at Schiphol and to comply with restrictions Schiphol has placed on the number of passengers boarding locally, the airline added that the measure would supplement its current restriction on sales.

In order to relieve pressure on the handling employees on the ground, the airline is also taking action with regard to its freight operations. On KLM Cityhopper aircraft, cargo will no longer be booked or loaded, and for international flights, loose goods and mail bags will be placed in containers to facilitate loading.

KLM is not the only European airline, though, to have announced cancellations this summer.

British Airways said in July 2022 that it will cancel around 10,000 short-haul flights from the beginning of August to the end of October in order to strengthen the resilience of its schedules in the face of ongoing disruption in the sector.

Due to staffing shortages at airlines, airports, and air traffic control, EasyJet and Lufthansa Group have also begun canceling flights.

Over the course of this summer, Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) has canceled around 3,900 flights, according to Bloomberg.

A spokesman for Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA), according to the Bloomberg story, stated that the fresh cancellations, which primarily affect nighttime flights, were intended to prevent interruption of other connections.