Air France and Delta sever ties with KLM as Schiphol ground handling partner

Air France and Delta Air Lines will appoint a new ground handling partner at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) after deciding to sever ties with KLM.  

On September 29, 2025, KLM said that it was assessing the “financial and employment-related consequences of this decision”.  

“Air France and Delta have informed KLM of their decision to seek an alternative ground handling partner at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for their below-the-wing operations, including baggage loading and unloading,” said a spokesperson for KLM. 

KLM ground handling staff have recently staged strikes, primarily focused on Amsterdam Schiphol, causing hundreds of flight cancellations.  

KLM also confirmed today that a further strike planned for October 1, 2025, had been put on hold in an “effort to break the current deadlock” between the airline and the unions FNV and CNV. 

In a statement passed to Reuters, a KLM spokesperson said the disruptions had “played a large role in the decision” by Delta and Air France. 

“They have incurred millions of euros in damages and had to let down many of their customers,” added the spokesperson.  

However, the CNV union disputed this and said the two issues were unrelated.  

Air France, which is part Air France-KLM Group with KLM, and Delta will invite proposals from other providers to fulfil its ground handling commitments at AMS. 

“This decision has immediate operational implications for KLM, particularly for the Ground Services department,” said KLM. 

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