Declining traffic hits airport operator
Staff at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport face redundancy today (January 27) following an announcement by the airport's operator.
Hit by a "strong decline in traffic and increasing international competition," the Schiphol Group said it planned to cut the Dutch airport's workforce by 10-25% by the end of 2010.
This is equivalent to a 220-550 reduction in the 2,200 employed by Schiphol Nederland, achieved "through natural attrition, outsourcing and job cuts."
Schiphol Group said it would draw up a redundancy programme with trade unions.
ABTN recently reported on easyJet's claims that new taxes at Schiphol favoured Air France KLM and spelt doom for the airport.
Cor Vrieswijk, easyJet's operations director at Schiphol, said:
"Schiphol has priced itself out of the market and is losing over 100,000 passengers each month.
"It is not only Europe's most expensive but also Europe's fastest shrinking airport."
EasyJet also claimed Schiphol's recent operational agreement with French airport authority Aéroports de Paris would favour AF KLM.
Schiphol Group has not revealed whether today's announcement would affect the French agreement, aimed at increasing profitability and reducing operational costs.
The group also operates Rotterdam and Lelystad airport and has a 51% stake in Eindhoven Airport.
Outside the Nederlands, Schiphol USA Inc. and Schiphol Australia have a share in operations at John F. Kennedy Airport and Brisbane Airport respectively.
www.schipholgroup.com