Schiphol airport is warning travellers that it will again be extremely busy on Sunday and they may have to wait outside the terminal building, after failing in its efforts to cut passenger numbers.

The airport had been trying to get the number of travellers moving through the airport on Sunday reduced by 5,800 by asking airlines to cut flights. While KLM has cancelled some services, other airlines and tour operators refused, although Corenden did shift one flight to Rotterdam airport instead.

Schiphol has blamed the shortage of staff on the problems, which have affected travel all week.

Iata, the international airline organisation, has slammed the situation at Schiphol, given that airlines pay fees to be able to use the airport’s services.

‘We do not support Schiphol’s request to cancel the bookings made by local departure passengers,’ Iata said in a letter to the airport authority. ‘Passengers book flights weeks or months in advance. Some will have to cancel their holiday plans. This is not just about a ticket, it is about an entire trip.’

There is also mounting criticism of the lack of public comment by Schiphol’s directors and this was particularly the case during last week’s wildcat strike by baggage operators, the Telegraaf said.

Schiphol expects to process 70,000 passengers between 10 am and 4 pm, news website Nu.nl reported.