Belgium’s two busiest passenger airports, Brussels Airport at Zaventem (Flemish Brabant) and Charleroi Airport in Hainaut Province, have said that all departures will be cancelled on Thursday. On Thursday the three main trade unions are staging a day of action. Incoming flights are also expected to be impacted by the action.
No passenger flights from Zaventem or Charleroi on Thursday due to unions’ day of action
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The socialist, liberal and Christian trade unions are staging a day of action on Thursday 13 February against the new federal government’s socio-economic plans.
Last week Brussels Airport already warned of disruption as it expects a large portion of it baggage handlers and security staff to strike. Now the airport has decided to cancel all departures on Thursday and is asking passengers not to go to there. Tens of thousands of people will see their travel plans disrupted. There are 215 departures and 215 arrivals at Zaventem every day.
On safety ground
A Brussels Airport spokesman told journalists that “In order to guarantee the safety of passengers and staff, and also to avoid long queues, we have decided in consultation with the airlines not to allow any passenger flight departures on Thursday. We obviously regret the impact on our passengers”
Arrivals will also be disrupted. Brussels Airport advises those due to arrive on Thursday to check the status of their flight with their airline or on the Brussels Airport website.
Disruption also at Charleroi Airport
All flights scheduled to depart on Thursday have also been cancelled at Charleroi Airport. The airport says that due to the lack of staff, safety cannot be guaranteed. Previous, the airport had said that three quarters of flights would be cancelled.
Meanwhile, only flights arriving from countries within the Schengen Zone will touch done at Charleroi on Thursday.