Tens of thousands of travelers are encountering disruption in their journeys due to a nationwide strike that has brought Belgium to a standstill.
Two major airports in Belgium have announced extensive flight cancellations for Tuesday, October 14, leading to flight suspensions and significant delays.
At Brussels Airport, the country’s largest airport, all outgoing flights have been called off, and nearly half of incoming flights have been axed. Additionally, Brussels Charleroi Airport, a significant hub for low-cost carriers like Ryanair, has confirmed the cancellation of all flights for both arrivals and departures on Tuesday.
The strike, organized by Belgium’s trade unions in opposition to government austerity measures, is expected to cause significant disruptions to metro, bus, and tram services across the country.
A spokesperson for Brussels Airport, Jeffrey Franssens, disclosed that out of 238 scheduled arrivals, 115 have been canceled. The airport had previously announced the cancellation of all 234 departures due to a planned walkout by a substantial number of G4S security personnel.
The airport authorities have cautioned about substantial disturbances on the strike day, emphasizing that Monday and Wednesday will be exceptionally busy as passengers attempt to reschedule their travel plans.
Charleroi Airport has informed affected passengers scheduled to fly on October 14 that they will be contacted by their respective airlines for rebooking or refund options in the coming days.
As per The Brussels Times, around 48,000 passengers will be impacted by the strike, with 33,000 set to depart and 15,000 to arrive at the airports.
Union representatives anticipate a strong turnout at their demonstration in Brussels, aiming to convey a powerful message, as stated by ACLVB spokesperson Kurt Van Hissenhoven.
