Cancelled flights: Travel chaos in Belgium as airport workers strike

Flights have been grounded in Belgium today, leaving thousands of Europeans stranded.

Departing flights have been cancelled to guarantee “the safety of passengers and staff” after a a nationwide industrial strike was called for 13 February.

Operations at Belgium’s largest air hub have been the most heavily affected, with some arrivals into Brussels Airport also cancelled.

Likewise, only flights from the Schengen zone being permitted to land at Charleroi Airport.

A statement by Brussels Airport says. “We regret the inconvenience caused by this union action.”

How will I know if my flight is cancelled?

If you have plans to travel to and from Belgium in the next 48 hours, you are advised to check the status of your flights with your airline. Flights from France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the US are all being impacted by the strike.

A spokesperson for Brussels Airport says: “Airlines will contact passengers whose flights have been impacted. We ask passengers not to come to the airport on the day.”

You can also speak to your airline to discuss rescheduling and rebooking options.

Brussels-South Airport in Charleroi also says: “Due to the lack of staff present to ensure operations run safely, all flights scheduled to depart from Charleroi Airport have been cancelled. Only incoming Schengen flights will be operating.”

Eurostar and regional train services in the European capital are so far unaffected, but may be busier than usual due to passengers making alternative travel arrangements.

Public transport services such as buses may also experience delays and some cancelled services.

The Belgian strike action is also causing a domino effect on pressure to airports throughout Europe. Maastricht Aachen Airport, the Netherland’s second-largest air cargo hub is also bracing for an influx of both passenger and cargo flights today. This includes nine rerouted Wizz Air flights.

What is the reason for the nationwide strike in Belgium?

A joint trade unions have joined together to organise a mass walkout by all Belgium’s airport security staff and baggage handlers. This is to protest again the Belgian Government’s pension reform plans, as well as ongoing labour concerns around working conditions and wages.

This follows a strike last month – on 13 January – as unions plan to strike on the 13th of every month until further notice while negotiations continue.

Given that the aviation sector relies heavily on its security and ground staff, the unions hope that the continued strikes will put pressure on the government and employers to address their demands.

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If you are planning a flight to Brussels in the next few months, you may be better off booking it for early or later in the calendar month to avoid disruption.

Brussels airports caution to expect a “busy day” on 14 February

“Due to the rescheduling of many passengers, we expect a very busy day at Brussels Airport on Friday”, says the airport website.

“We recommend to come to the airport in time and to check our online tool or our app to know at what time to arrive for your flight.”

Are passengers entitled to compensation due to a strike?

Under EU law, if a flight is cancelled, the airline has to offer you a refund or an alternative flight.

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If your flight is delayed, you may be entitled to refunds for unplanned expenses, such as food and accommodation.

Contact your airline or travel agent to claim your refunds, though beware it can take months for your money to arrive.

According to EU law, rail passengers within the bloc are also entitled to compensation.

If your train is delayed but you choose to travel anyway, you may still be eligible for a partial or full refund. This usually depends on how late your train arrives at its destination.

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If your train is delayed by more than 60 minutes, you can choose not to travel and will receive a full refund for your ticket.

Alternatively, you can choose to travel at a later date.

SNCB has full details on how to claim a refund here.