Belgium strike next week to affect thousands of travellers as two major airports halt flights

Tens of thousands of travellers face severe delays and cancellations in Belgium next week, following the announcement of a national strike.

On Tuesday, 14 October, the joint trade union front will protest against reforms by the federal government impacting pensions, salaries, and working conditions.

The sudden move is expected to cause chaos for the country’s biggest airport, bringing hundreds of flights to a halt. 

Train, bus, and tram services will also be significantly reduced, while public services such as schools will also be affected.

Belgium strikes: Which airports are affected?

Brussels Airport has warned of “major disruptions” on the day of industrial action, which involves members of its security staff.

To “ensure passenger and staff safety”, the hub has decided to cancel all of its departing flights on 14 October. On average, the airport handles 200 daily departures.

It says on its website that airlines will contact passengers impacted by the strikes to inform them directly of their options.

Cancellations expected

“As departing passenger flights are cancelled, cancellations are also possible on some arriving flights,” Brussels Airport adds.

“The flight overview on our website will show cancellations only once they are registered by the airline.”

Brussels Charleroi - which is popular with budget airlines including Ryanair - has also confirmed it will be affected by the demonstration.

It has therefore cancelled all departing and arriving flights on 14 October. 

“Passengers affected scheduled to fly via Charleroi on 14 October will be contacted in the coming days by their airline for a rebooking or refund,” the airport says on its website.

Metro, bus, and tram services are also slated to be impacted by the strike. However, details on which lines will be affected are yet to be confirmed.

Travellers are being urged to check for announcements closer to the date of action.

The STIB-MIVB app Floya is useful for tourists needing to find alternative transport methods such as bicycles and scooters. It will show the best routine options on the day of the demonstration too, showing which lines are still operating.

National railway operator SNCB says it has not received a strike notice for the upcoming demonstration.

However, it says disruptions “remain possible” due to the expected high number of passengers on the trains to and from Brussels.

Will retail also be impacted?

Tourists in Belgium may also find it difficult to make the most of their holiday, as unions call on the retail sector to get involved with the strike.

If successful, workers at supermarkets, fashion retailers, and DIY stores could leave their workplace on 14 October to demonstrate - which may result in swathes of shops suddenly closing.