When travel becomes chaotic, the right support makes all the difference

The first week of January demonstrated just how quickly the travel industry can come under pressure. At Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, persistent winter weather created significant operational challenges. More than 3,200 flights were cancelled so far this month, with over 700 cancellations in a single day. Thousands of travellers were stranded, hotel capacity was exhausted within hours, and pressure at airport service desks continued to rise. Information services struggled to keep pace with the rapid developments. 

For business travellers, the impact was immediate. Delays and cancellations disrupted schedules, postponed meetings, and put pressure on ongoing projects. Workflows stalled, deadlines shifted, and organisations faced operational setbacks as travel plans unravelled. 

In moments like these, having a proactive travel partner makes a world of difference. When plans change unexpectedly, travellers need more than an automated alert. They need clarity. They need fast, well‑informed alternatives. And they need experts who understand the complexities and pressures of business travel. 

During this turbulent period, ATPI immediately scaled up internal capacity. Our teams tracked operational changes in real time, sourced alternatives, and proactively informed travellers and travel managers. This wasn’t a one‑off intervention, but a continuous process — always adjusted to what travellers needed at that exact moment. 

“In situations like this, it’s about more than technology. Travellers want to know what to expect so they can keep moving. It helps when someone monitors the situation with you, maintains oversight, and restores calm when everything feels uncertain,” says a Senior Corporate Travel Consultant. 

In such circumstances, travel management becomes far more than an administrative task. Every decision affects people, their schedules, and the work that must go on. It’s precisely when everything becomes unpredictable that true expertise shows its value — by creating clarity, providing direction, and ensuring that business travellers can continue their journey with confidence.