Schiphol airport’s passenger numbers doubled in 2022 as the national hub recovered from the restrictions imposed in the first two years of the coronavirus pandemic.

A total of 52.5 million people passed through the airport, a figure which includes arrivals, departures and transit passengers. The number is still 26% down from the pre-pandemic level of 71.1 million passengers.

The airport was beset by problems over the summer as it struggled to cope with the rise in demand, which prompted the departure of Dick Benschop as CEO in September.

The airport capped the number of passengers per day during peak periods and urged airlines to cancel flights to prevent long queues building up at security gates. At the peak of the crisis passengers were told not to arrive more than four hours before their flight was due to leave.

Baggage handlers went on strike in the spring and shortages of security staff meant the airport was unable to process as many passengers as before the pandemic.

The FNV trade union has warned travellers to expect more problems this summer as the staff shortages have still not been resolved. The airport is due to decide by April whether it needs to continue limiting passenger numbers.