Air traffic controllers in Belgium are set to join a national strike against the new government on Thursday, due to proposed budget cuts. The walkout, scheduled from 06:45 – 22:15 local time, will ground all flights at the following airports: Brussels (BRU), Charleroi (CRL) Antwerp (ANR), Ostend (OST), and Liège. (LGG)
This is not just a major disruption for Belgium, but for European aviation in general, since Brussels is the headquarters of the European Union, and several airlines have hubs in the country. It’s unclear yet what the economic cost of this shutdown will be on the economy, and how many European travelers will be impacted, but it could be severe.
ATC staff will join baggage handlers and security in walking out in protest on the 13th. What do you think of the national strike. Does this method of negotiation solve anything?
