Amsterdam's Schiphol airport urged travellers on Saturday to stay away as a strike by ground personnel at the start of a school holiday caused chaos at Europe's third-busiest airport.
"The terminal is too full at the moment ... Schiphol is calling on travellers to not come to the airport anymore", airport authorities said in a statement issued shortly before noon, 10 a.m. GMT (2 p.m. UAE time).
"We are very sorry to have to do this, but it is necessary to guarantee safety", an airport spokesperson told Reuters.
Police closed down highway exits to the airport on Saturday afternoon as lines at departure gates stretched out of the airport buildings.
Travellers were advised to stay away until at least 1 p.m. GMT (5 p.m. UAE time), while airport staff work to get as many as possible of the thousands of frustrated passengers aboard their often-delayed flights.
Baggage handlers for KLM, the Dutch arm of airline Air France-KLM AIRF.PA, had early on Saturday gone on a previously unannounced strike in demand for higher pay and better working conditions.
KLM ground staff handle about half of all luggage coming through Schiphol, Europe's third-busiest airport after Paris Charles de Gaulle and London Heathrow.
Labour union FNV said the strike had ended around noon.
Trump cancels US strikes on Iran, citing progress in talks
US confirms third strike on Indian-crewed tankers this week
UK defence minister Healey quits, says PM Starmer's plans fail to keep country safe
False alarm at the Pentagon triggers brief shelter-in-place order
Trump says US will hit Iran 'very hard', take control of energy infrastructure
US and Iran trade attacks for a second day, undermining shaky ceasefire
Bahrain says debris from intercepted Iranian drones injures child, damages homes
Philippines launches probe into deaths of two athletes from top basketball team
