Icelandair Flies Baggage Handlers To Amsterdam

There is a shortage of ground handler in Europe. This is making it difficult to reliably deliver checked bags. At least one major airport has a solution for this.

Icelandair flying baggage handlers to avoid issues

Amsterdam Schiphol is one of the most problematic airports in Europe this summer due to staff shortages. Even though the airport imposed a passenger cap, there are still problems with baggage delivery.

The airline is sending its own people to Amsterdam to help load and unload bags. An official from the airline describes this.

“We have also been sending people ourselves out to smooth over the bag problems that have come up. Since last Friday, we have added two bag handlers to our crew to Amsterdam to speed things up and keep planes on time.”

“We will have to see how it develops and whether we carry this on, and even maybe to other destinations. As I say, we are trying to find ways to reduce the effects of these delays and minimise disruption to the journeys of our passengers.”

I think this helps with bags being loaded in Amsterdam, and that could be a good investment. When bags aren't delivered to passengers on-time, the airline is on the hook for compensation, but that doesn't tell the whole story.

The baggage handler can only do so much. The issue isn't loading the bags that are plane side, but rather that the bags are stuck in the baggage system.

The only time that work can be done is when the planes are on the ground.

The logistics of this must be interesting

This is an investment by the airline. Not only do these two baggage handler take up seats that could be used by other people, but they are also flying in each direction for 3 hours. They are most likely going to use their entire shift to spend 70-75 minutes on the ground in Amsterdam.

There are a few thoughts about that.

• Presumably this reflects that Keflavik Airport isn’t understaffed in the same way as other airports, so they have workers to spare
• I’m curious how this works logistically, because just because someone has security clearance to access an airport tarmac in Iceland presumably doesn’t give them the right to access a tarmac in the Netherlands, right?
• Then there’s the whole question of whether this violates any union or labor clauses, since there are typically rules around who can perform different work functions

For thinking outside the box and investing a lot of money to make the passenger experience better, is it not time to give a shout out toIcelandair?

Bottom line

With major European airports struggling to cope with travel demand, Icelandair is attempting to get bags delivered on-time. In order to help load and unload bags at the airport, Icelandair is currently flying baggage handlers from the airport.

They are just on the ground for 70-75 minutes between flights. The concept is being considered for other airports.

What do you think about luggage being sent to other airports?