Transavia has scrapped 240 flights in July and August in the wake of Schiphol Airport’s decision to impose a cap on the number of passengers during the peak holiday season.

The airline said 13,000 customers would be affected, but 70% would be offered an alternative flight around the same time. The rest will have to claim a refund or rebook for after August 28, when the restrictions are due to end.

All the affected flights are scheduled to depart between July 7 and August 14. Transavia will decide next month if any further cancellations are needed in the last two weeks of August.

Schiphol announced last week that it needed to cut passenger numbers by an average of 13,500 a day because of a shortage of security staff and baggage handlers.

It identified July 13, 14, 18, 19, 20 and 23 as ‘peak days’, when the number of cancellations is expected to be even higher.