Schiphol warns passengers they face transport strike chaos on Tuesday

Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport is warning travellers they face limited train services, no buses and major traffic jams on Tuesday, as public transport workers go on strike in support of an earlier state pension age.

‘We expect a lot of traffic and congested roads around Schiphol so we would ask you to prepare yourself well and take extra travel time into account,’ the airport said. Around half the people using the airport use public transport on a regular day, the airport says.

On Sunday, judges at an emergency court hearing ruled there must be at least one train every 15 minutes between the airport and Amsterdam.

Although the right to strike is key, it is less important than the chaos that will ensue if thousands of travellers are stranded at the airport because of the strike, the court said.

Haarlemermeer mayor Onno Hoes, who had gone to court to have the strike restricted, said he still feared that there will be major problems in the roads as passengers turn to taxis, friends and family to reach Schiphol.

The airport authority had also urged people to carpool or share their taxi journeys.

Some airlines have also suggested passengers re-book and travel a different day to avoid the forecast problems.