Dutch flag carrier KLM cancelled an additional 34 flights from Schiphol on Saturday following the airport authority’s decision to slash passenger numbers for the next six weeks because of staff shortages.

‘KLM is very disenchanted that Schiphol only indicated on Friday that it would not be able to handle the number of passengers boarding in Amsterdam on Saturday 17, Sunday 18 and Monday, 19 September,’ the airline said in a statement.

‘This request comes over and above the cancellations already made for September at the airport’s earlier request,’ the statement said. In total, KLM has scrapped 52 flights planned for Saturday.  Aircraft are leaving empty to pick up returning passengers.

Schiphol said on Friday it is cutting passenger numbers by an average of 9,250 a day for the coming six weeks, as it grapples to cope with a shortage of security staff.

The cut amounts to an 18% reduction in the number of travellers and has been made necessary because security companies ‘are supplying fewer security officials than pledged earlier’, the airport said.

The measure will remain in place until at least October 31.

On social media, travellers complained about long waits to reach security checks, despite the reduction in flights.

@Schiphol we were here 4 hours before. Spent 2 hours to queue for @emirates check in, now there is a queue that looks 2 to 3 hours long and my flight is taking off in 1.5 hours. Never experience such lousy Airport in my entire life. Everyone here is stress about missing flight

— Melly🐝 (@mel_bea) September 17, 2022

Welcome to Amsterdam Schiphol, 3h waiting time for security check without possibility to use toilets 🤯 when is this going to stop?! pic.twitter.com/695aB5Br7t

— Kasia Urb (@kaskaturb) September 17, 2022

On Thursdsay airport chief executive Dick Benschop said he was stepping down from the job. His resignation follows criticism of the way he had attempted to solve the staff shortages which have plagued Schiphol since May.