Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On January 13, a national strike by Brussels Airport handlers and security staff will cause major disruptions to public transport and Brussels Airlines traffic.
Due to a union strike over the proposed pension changes from the government, the Brussels airport is preparing for severe disruptions. The strike would affect several baggage handlers and security staff, which could cause the cancellation of many flights and other delays. Still, the airlines are reviewing their schedules, so it is unclear which flights are going to be affected. However, passengers in Brussels will be informed if their flight is affected. A final list of canceled flights will be available by the weekend.
Lately, official X (formerly Twitter) handle of Brussels Airport announced the strike attributed to ‘national manifestation and strike’ of handlers and security staff. Statement reads, “Due to a national #manifestation & #strike by handlers & security staff on 13/1, airport operations will be disrupted. Several flights will be cancelled/ rescheduled, impacted passengers will be notified by their airline. Public transport will also be impacted.”
⚠ Due to a national #manifestation & #strike by handlers & security staff on 13/1, airport operations will be disrupted. Several flights will be cancelled/ rescheduled, impacted passengers will be notified by their airline. Public transport will also be impacted.
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) January 10, 2025
➡ For more… pic.twitter.com/if17dS84zZ
What impact will the January 13 union strike have on Brussels Airport and Airlines?
This strike is a follow-up of other strikes, such as the big one on October 1, 2024, which canceled all flights and affected around 50,000 passengers. The unions have complained about heavy work pressure, poor maintenance of airports, lack of public transport for employees, and poor facilities in the airports. Passengers are asked to get updates on their flight status; the airport, along with the airlines, will announce the changes on their schedule officially.
The airline does not yet know how many flights will be canceled or even which ones are going to work, according to Nico Cardone, an airline spokesperson. The airline is adjusting its flight schedule. Cardone also mentioned that passengers should not contact the airline’s Service Centre right now as they are still assessing the situation. This situation is similar to earlier strikes that caused major problems at Brussels Airport. On September 12, 2024, a sudden strike at Charleroi Airport resulted in nearly 200 flights being canceled.
