Another Strike to Hit Belgian Airports on Tuesday – Due to the ongoing general strike wave in Belgium, Charleroi Airport will not operate any flights on Tuesday, while Brussels’ Zaventem Airport has canceled 30 percent of its flights.
According to a Monday article from The Brussels Times, an English-language Brussels news outlet, transportation disruptions and flight cancellations are again expected in Belgium on April 29 because of the weekly Tuesday strikes organized by Belgian transportation unions since January.
According to Belgian unions organizing the national strike, the protest is directed against government-proposed pension reform measures. They argue that plans to introduce lower pensions and raise the retirement age would create unfavorable conditions for workers and lead to deteriorating working conditions.
Charleroi Airport, announced that all departing flights on Tuesday have been canceled due to an insufficient number of staff for “fully safe operations.” Passengers were advised to check with their airlines, as some arriving flights may also be canceled.
At Brussels’ Zaventem International Airport, at least 30 percent of Tuesday’s arriving and departing flights have been canceled, as most ground handling and security staff are expected to strike, according to the airport operator. Management warned that delays and additional cancellations are possible, and that Tuesday’s events may affect travel in the following days as well.
Brussels’ public transportation company (STIB) expects “serious disruptions” across metro, tram, and bus services. The Belgian national railway company (SNCB) stated that train services will be only partially operational from Monday 10 p.m. to Tuesday 10 p.m. On Tuesday, only three out of every five intercity (IC) trains between major cities will run, and suburban train services will operate at no more than half capacity.
Additionally, according to the news portal, cargo shipping to and from the Port of Antwerp will be suspended from Monday evening until Wednesday morning. Workers in passenger water transport have not yet announced plans to strike, the report added.
Source: The Brussels Times
