For safety reasons, no departing flights will be taking off from Brussels Airport on Tuesday 1 October, authorities have said, as they prepare for a day of industrial action by security staff.
The announcement overrides previous preparations, such as Brussels Airlines making drastic cuts to its schedules for the day in response to an airport request that carriers adjust the strain on the hub. The Brussels-based carrier had promised to do its “utmost to get everyone on their destination with the least possible delay” including by offering alternative flights “on an earlier departure date, a later date or the same day via another hub of Lufthansa Group.”
No alternative same-day flights
The possibility of an alternative flight on the same day has now been kiboshed, as the latest announcement from the airport now means no departures will take place on 1 October for any airlines.
“To ensure the safety of passengers and staff, the airlines, in consultation with Brussels Airport, have decided not to operate any departing passenger flights on 1 October,” authorities said. Affected passengers should be notified by their airline, the operator promised.
50,000 passengers affected
The decision is likely to affect the journeys of approximately 50,000 passengers, with not only the complete wipeout of departures but also some arrivals expected to be cancelled.
Anyone planning a journey through the airport that day, whether a departure or an arrival, is advised “to check the status of their flight with their airline or on our website,” Brussels Airport said. Cargo operations meanwhile are anticipated to continue as normal.
Why are staff striking?
The strike action is being taken by European trade union federations UNI Europa and Effat, together with Belgian unions, whose members will be joining a mass demonstration in the European quarter of the Belgian capital on 1 October. They are protesting poor working conditions and a lack of investment in the airport’s security, cleaning and catering services while passenger-facing refurbishments have taken priority.
Poor pay, dilapidated facilities and long working hours are resulting in high staff sickness and turnover as recruitment and retention suffers, unions say, claiming that the vote to strike and protest comes after what they say is the failure of the airport operator (BAC) to come to the negotiating table, despite complaints being raised many times.
The protest is also going to make itself felt on other Belgian aviation hubs, such as Liege and Charleroi. Charleroi Airport has announced a 30% reduction of operations for 1 October amid ongoing impact assessments.
