KLM was forced to cancel 100 flights on Wednesday after a two-hour strike by ground handling staff. Around 27,000 passengers were affected.

Strikes Hit Aviation

KLM had to reorganise its operations following the two-hour strike on Wednesday morning. A spokesperson for the airline stated that the cancellations directly affected approximately 27,000 passengers.

The two unions representing ground handling staff announced that they would continue their protests after no progress was made in collective bargaining talks. A new four-hour walkout is planned for 17 September.

Strikes Continue Despite Agreement

Although a partial agreement was reached with some employee representatives last week, the two major unions did not join the settlement. The deadlock in negotiations is adding further pressure to KLM’s already strained operations during the summer season.

A Summer of Strikes in European Aviation

KLM’s cancellations are the latest in a series of widespread labour strikes disrupting European aviation this summer. In particular, strikes by French air traffic controllers forced Ryanair and many other airlines to cancel flights in July.

Impact on Passengers

Due to the cancellations, a significant number of passengers were rebooked onto other flights. KLM announced that it is assisting passengers with ticket changes and refunds. However, heavy summer traffic is making it difficult for travellers to find alternative flights.