It is often said that out of adversity comes opportunity. The last few years have forced all of us to adapt to new situations, revaluate where we stand and where we want to go.

I started working in the airline industry in 2021. Previously, I had lived in countries as diverse as Spain, Germany, Slovakia, or Australia. In my short time here, I came to realise that many of us have similar stories: backpackers, foreigners who move because of love, nomads, people who are deeply passionate about travel and adventure.  

Our beginnings were not easy. Many of us started this adventure in the middle of the pandemic and did not know a pre-covid industry. All of us had to adapt to a situation we had never lived before: new systems, new policies, a new way of travelling, working, and living. 

​​​​​​​The flower that blooms in adversity

Airports have always been a tiny representation of life as a whole. A place where families reunite after not seeing each other for years, where lovers say goodbye or teenagers explore the world by themselves for the first time (hopefully without a guitar and singing Wonderwall on repeat). It is fascinating to think that I am part of that. I make it happen. It feels like the world fell asleep and it’s finally waking up from a long hibernation.

Ever since the beginning of last summer we have seen a high amount of flight cancellations, the long queues at Schiphol and from time to time, how our system decided to go on holiday in the middle of our shifts. As birds that were caged for too long and are eager to fly – pun intended, passengers feel the urge to start exploring again as much as we do.  

As chaotic as life is at the moment, so are airports. All these challenges will simply create more opportunities and stories. If everything worked smoothly, we would not have as many interesting anecdotes to tell.  ​​​​​​​And that's what makes life worth living.