The Belgian trade unions BBTK/SETCA (socialist) and ACV Puls/CNE (Christian) have submitted a strike notification to Brussels Airlines. The announcement comes days after the dismissal of three flight attendants, who refused to operate a flight due to the potential presence of bed bugs.
The incident leading to the strike notification took place on Friday, 16 October 2025, after cleaning staff had reported potential bed bug or flea signs on an Airbus A330-300 scheduled to operate a Brussels Airlines flight from Brussels (Belgium) to Accra (Ghana). Following that report, the airline is said to have carried out a control which declared the issue to be a false alarm.
However, five cabin crew members remained unconvinced and showed unease regarding the situation. Two flight attendants were eventually convinced to take up their shift, yet three others invoked their ‘unfit to fly’ right. The European aviation rule allows flight personnel to withdraw from their duty when feeling physically or psychologically unfit, for whatever reason.
Gross misconduct or dangerous precedent?
Brussels Airlines, however, did not accept the flight attendants’ decision. The three cabin crew members who refused to fly were summoned to a disciplinary meeting on Monday, 20 October, where they were dismissed for ‘gross misconduct’. The airline accuses the personnel of breaching procedures while causing financial and operational damage.
All three former personnel members had multiple decades of service (20, 27, and 30 years). While they expected a reprimand, they were not prepared for an instant dismissal following the incident. According to the unions, in particular BBTK/SETCA and ACV Plus/CNE, firing the cabin crew members was not only disproportionate but it also set a dangerous precedent, possibly undermining cabin crews’ safety rights.
“Crew who feel unsafe or unfit may now be pressured to fly regardless of their condition, which jeopardises passenger safety”, Jeroen Van Ranst (ACV Puls) told Aviation24.
A union protest was thus launched on Saturday, 25 October, which did not cause any disruption to travellers. However, the unions also announced that if Brussels Airlines’ management did not respond before 27 October, a strike notification would follow.
As the strike notification has been given, airline officials have a week to respond to the matter. Without a reply, a strike is likely to go through, which might have a big impact on passengers during the upcoming autumn holiday travel period.
