Belgian strikes impact international flights
Airport security and baggage handling staff are participating in the strikes, which were organised by Belgian trade union confederation ACV-CSC
Brussels Airport has cancelled all of its departing flights for 26 November and more than half of its incoming flights, due to a national strike.
A spokesperson from the airport previously stated that it was expecting to cancel around 110 of its 203 scheduled flights.
The airport’s official website is currently displaying cancellations from airlines such as British Airways, Hainan Airlines, Transavia, Brussels Airlines, United Airlines, and others.
Brussels South Charleroi Airport has also suspended all flights, both inbound and outbound, for the day, impacting airlines such as Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Pegasus.
The airport strikes were organised by Belgian trade union confederation ACV-CSC, in response to government austerity measures, and are an escalation in a three-day campaign which began on 24 November.
On the first day, workers on trains and other public transport providers walked out, with some public service workers in schools, creches, and hospitals joining on Tuesday.
In a statement, Brussels Airport reported: “Due to the national industrial action on Wednesday 26 November in which the staff of the security and handling service provider is participating, we unfortunately expect major disruptions to our airport operations on that day.”
French airports were affected by air traffic controller strikes last month.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor for Voyageur Group, joining in 2021. He writes for both ITIJ and AirMed&Rescue, covering a range of topics including international travel and health insurance, medical assistance provision and air medical transportation. He also serves as Title Editor of the Assistance & Repatriation Reviews. Oliver holds an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University, as well as a BA in English with Creative Writing from Falmouth University.