KLM strike cancels 100 flights at Schiphol on Sept. 10

Published on Sep 10, 2025, 9:49 am CDT

6 min read

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will cancel about 100 flights at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) on September 10 after unions called a two-hour ground staff strike from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. local time. The carrier says around 27,000 passengers could be affected, with automatic rebooking onto the first available alternatives. Travelers should monitor the KLM app and MyTrip for live updates, and ensure contact details are current to receive notifications. A second, longer action is planned for next week, increasing the chance of rolling schedule changes across parts of Europe.

Key Points

Why it matters: Morning-bank disruption at KLM's hub can ripple into afternoon connections across Europe.
Travel impact: About 100 cancellations, delays, and misconnect risk for roughly 27,000 passengers.
What's next: A four-hour morning strike is planned for September 17.
Who is striking: Ground staff organized by FNV and CNV, outside a recent KLM deal with three other unions.
What to do: Use the KLM app or MyTrip for rebooking notices, and build extra time for tight connections.

Snapshot

The walkout window is short, but it lands during Schiphol's busiest departure wave. KLM is pre-canceling flights to reduce gate and baggage pressure, then rebooking affected travelers. Many cancellations are intra-Europe services, which helps protect long-haul banks, but delays and missed connections remain likely through the day as aircraft and crews fall out of position. Expect lingering effects into September 11 as rotations reset. If you must travel, monitor flight status in the KLM app, keep notifications on, and avoid checking bags if a tight connection is unavoidable. Separate-ticket itineraries are most vulnerable to misconnects and overnight stays.

Background

KLM's labor backdrop is split. On September 4, the airline announced a negotiated ground-staff agreement with NVLT, VKP, and De Unie that includes modest wage steps, a one-time payment, profit-sharing adjustments, and early-retirement provisions through 2026. Two other unions, FNV and CNV, were not party to that deal and have organized work stoppages to push their demands, starting with a two-hour action on September 10 and a four-hour action on September 17. Earlier in the summer, strike threats surfaced around the July travel peak as pay talks stalled. With the new September actions, the dispute has shifted from legal maneuvering to operational disruption, forcing KLM to thin schedules and prioritize rebooking at its AMS hub.

Latest Developments

Morning walkout at Schiphol compresses operations

The 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. local stoppage targets ground handling, the function that turns aircraft, loads bags, and pushes flights off blocks. Even a short pause can jam stands and baggage halls, so KLM is proactively canceling flights, mainly short-haul, to keep the airfield flowing. Travelers should expect departure holds and gate changes during the morning, plus knock-on delays into the afternoon as crews and aircraft rotate back into sequence. If you are connecting over AMS, consider later flights or longer layovers. For general disruption-proofing at this airport, see our earlier guidance in KLM Strike on June 28: How to Avoid Disruption at Schiphol.

KLM rebooking policy and app alerts

KLM states that affected customers will be automatically rebooked on the first available alternative and notified via the KLM app or email, provided profile contact details are up to date. The airline's travel-alerts page flags potential impact on the days before and after September 10 as schedules rebalance. If your new itinerary does not work, manage changes in MyTrip or the app rather than queueing at airport desks. Keep boarding passes and receipts in case you need to claim statutory care or refunds under European consumer rules. Avoid checking luggage on tight connections and carry essentials in your cabin bag.

Second action set for September 17, also in the morning

Unions have filed a four-hour morning strike for Wednesday, September 17, from 8 a.m. to noon. The longer window raises the likelihood of deeper schedule trims, including more missed connections during midday banks. Travelers connecting to or from France on September 18 should note that a separate French air-traffic-control strike notice could add regional complexity; consider leaving larger buffers or traveling a day earlier. For planning context, see France's September ATC strike could ripple across Europe.

Analysis

KLM's choice to pre-cancel about 100 flights is a textbook hub-protection move. By thinning the schedule early, the airline preserves scarce ground resources during the strike window and reduces the risk of systemwide gridlock. Schiphol's morning bank concentrates short-haul departures, so cancelling intra-Europe turns frees equipment and staff to protect higher-yield long-haul banks arriving or departing near the peak. The tradeoff is immediate inconvenience for thousands of travelers but greater odds that long-haul flights operate, even if late.

Operationally, ground handling is the chokepoint. If bags cannot be loaded, aircraft cannot depart, and gates cannot be cleared for the next wave. Once the walkout ends, recovery hinges on how quickly baggage backlogs are cleared and aircraft are repositioned. Expect mismatched crews and frames through the afternoon, producing rolling 30- to 90-minute delays. Separate-ticket travelers are exposed, since protected connections and hotel vouchers generally apply only on a single ticket with the same marketing carrier.

From a consumer-rights perspective, European rules typically require airlines to provide care and, in many strike scenarios, refunds or alternative transport. Eligibility for cash compensation varies by circumstance and will depend on how regulators classify the action and whether the airline can argue extraordinary circumstances. Given a second strike on September 17, KLM's conservative cancellations now may reduce later disruption, but travelers should keep contingency plans ready.

Final Thoughts

If you are booked on KLM through Amsterdam on September 10, treat this like a weather day. Accept a proactive rebooking if it gets you moving, pad connections by at least two hours, and avoid checked bags on tight turnarounds. With a longer action planned for September 17, consider shifting critical trips off peak mornings or rerouting through a different hub. Keep notifications on, and verify contact details in your KLM profile so changes reach you promptly. Measured flexibility now is the best way to ride out the KLM strike.