All flights in and out of Belgian airports cancelled due to air traffic control strikes

The flight departure board shows cancelled flights during the national strike at Zaventem international airport in Zaventem near Brussels
EPA
Sophie Williams13 February 2019

All flights in and out of Belgian airports have been cancelled for 24 hours as the country’s air traffic controllers go on strike.

UK flights to Belgium have been affected with airlines including British Airways forced to cancel departures to the country.

Air traffic controllers have joined a national strike over pay and working conditions.

Belgian air traffic control body Skeyes shut Belgian airspace for 24 hours from 10pm on Tuesday as it could not guarantee that enough staff would turn up for work.

Strikers stand in the departures hall during the national strike at Zaventem international airport in Zaventem near Brussels
EPA

Some flights have been forced to take a detour because of restrictions in the country’s airspace.

Brussels Airport confirmed the cancellations and said that around 60,000 passengers would be affected.

It has told people not to travel to the airport.

Just one passenger flight to Moscow is set to depart on Wednesday with a few late arrivals and some cargo flights scheduled.

A general view of the empty departure hall during the national strike at Brussels Airport
EPA

Rail and other public transport systems are due to be hit hard during the 24-hour strike called by unions after the breakdown of wage talks.

Eurostar services between Brussels and London or Paris are expected to run.

Brussels’ metro has also been affected by the strikes with only a handful of lines running.

Trade unions are protesting limits on wage increases during times of economic growth and want better conditions for early retirement, minimum wages and better education on the job.

Police, postal and hospital services will also be affected.

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