All flights scheduled for Thursday at Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) have been cancelled due to a 24-hour "common front strike," the airport announced early this morning.
Charleroi Airport's management already warned of possible disruptions due to "spontaneous actions," but these now turned out to be even more substantial than expected following a blockade on the runway.
While the airport operator initially said it would "pre-emptively scale back operational capacity" due to the call for staff to strike and recommended that passengers fly "with hand luggage only," it now appears that the entire airport is affected: no flights will land or depart.
"A common front strike is underway at Charleroi airport. All flights scheduled for Thursday have been cancelled," a warning on the airport's website reads. "We regret the impact of these actions and apologise for any inconvenience caused."
'Very surprised'
The strike affects most operational functions, such as baggage, check-in and aircraft refuelling, among others. Passengers who were due to fly on Thursday are advised not to go to the airport and to contact their airline.
"Due to the strong mobilisation of the union delegations, we cannot guarantee security," Nathalie Pierard, BSCA communications director, told Belga News Agency around 06:00 on Thursday. She regretted that passengers "were being held hostage" by the strike. Travellers affected by the cancellations will be informed by their respective airlines.
The airport's management is "very surprised" by the action. While the unions had submitted a strike notice on 4 September, the notice is still pending and any actions would only take place from 19 September (when the notice expires).
The management regrets that "the unions are not fulfilling their commitments to social peace." On Wednesday, the management had proposed to sit together, but the unions did not respond. The labour dispute concerns the staff's working conditions: they say absenteeism is making the workload unbearable, and workers also complain of "aggressive management."
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Meanwhile, the new Walloon Minister for Airports Cécile Neven (MR) said that she "strongly deplores" the strike action at Charleroi Airport and called on "management and unions to get back to the table and resume social dialogue."
"This is essential in the interests of users, workers, the company and its partners. Charleroi Airport is a key player in our economy and our mobility," she added. "Its long-term future depends on social peace and, therefore, on constructive and peaceful consultation."
