KLM ground staff strike grounds over 100 flights - How can passengers get compensation? September 9, 2025 | Amsterdam

KLM strike: when and where? 

Nearly 30,000 passengers are impacted as KLM has cancelled more than 100 flights scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, September 10th due to a strike by its ground staff, the latest disruption in a growing wave of labour unrest in the European aviation sector.

The two-hour walkout, scheduled between 8:00 and 10:00 AM at Schiphol Airport, and organised by the FNV and CNV unions follows KLM's recent wage agreement with three smaller unions: a deal the larger unions say fails to address the needs of physically demanding roles, such as baggage handlers. KLM ground staff continue to ask for fairer wages and more permanent contracts.

As a result, KLM passengers, particularly those booked on short-haul European flights - face cancellations, delays, and missed connections all throughout Wednesday. While KLM has stated that all affected passengers will be rebooked onto alternative flights, that may not be the end of the matter.

Your Rights: Can you claim compensation for your flight cancelled during the KLM strike?

If your flight was cancelled or severely delayed due to the KLM strike, you are likely entitled to compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004, which protects passengers when flights are cancelled or delayed within the European Union.

Whether passengers are eligible for compensation in this case depends on one key question: was the strike within the airline’s control?

According to recent European Court of Justice rulings, airline staff strikes - especially those related to internal disputes like pay and contracts-are generally considered within the airline’s control. That means affected passengers may well have the right to claim:

• €250 for flights up to 1,500 km
• €400 for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km
• €600 for flights longer than 3,500 km outside the EU

These amounts apply if the delay exceeds three hours or if a flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure.

"KLM’s responsibility doesn’t end with rebooking. If the strike is deemed to be within the airline’s control - which is likely - passengers have a strong case for compensation," says CEO Tom Van Bokhoven of Flight-Delayed.com, a passenger rights organisation that helps travellers claim under EU 261.

What should affected passengers do?

If you were affected by this or upcoming strikes, you can take the following steps:

1. Keep all documents - boarding passes, booking confirmations, and any communication from KLM.

2. Request written confirmation - of the reason for the delay or cancellation from KLM.

3. Submit a claim on Flight-Delayed.com.

4. Act quickly - you have up to 2 years to claim in the Netherlands, and up to 6 years depending on your flight route, but the sooner the better.

Ready to claim your compensation? 

Are there more KLM disruptions ahead?

Unions have already announced another four-hour strike planned for Wednesday next week, raising the likelihood of further travel chaos. For now, passengers are advised to check their flight status regularly and to familiarise themselves with their rights under EU 261.