More than 1.3 million British tourists visit Belgium every year
12:08, 28 Apr 2026Updated 12:09, 28 Apr 2026
Passengers wait as they queue up at a check-in area of Brussels Airport in Brussels on September 20, 2025, after the airport’s system was hit by a “cyberattack”. Now travellers there could face new disruption(Image: JORIS SMETS, Belga/AFP via Getty Images)
Fresh strike action is being planned that could lead to disruption for British holidaymakers. A joint union front (CNE/ACV Puls, CSC Transcom, CGSLB/ACLVB, and Setca/BBTK) has announced it has lodged a national strike notice covering the entire Belgian aviation sector.
The notice was filed on Monday, April 27. According to the latest UK Government figures in 2026, more than 1.3 million Brits travel to Belgium every year. Le Soir reports that the unions are unhappy with pension reforms, with a row erupting following the reported dismissal of a pilot by his employer without severance pay.
The alleged sacking of the pilot, who had reportedly reached the age of 65, stems from conflicting Belgian and European legislation, according to union leaders. “Given that this situation is fundamentally untenable, we are forced to file a sectoral strike notice for Belgian aviation. We are not taking this decision lightly, but rather to give the person responsible for this chaos – the Minister of Pensions – one last chance to propose structural and equitable solutions,” the three unions wrote in a statement.
“Without swift and clear measures, this situation risks worsening,” conclude the CNE, CSC Transcom, CGSLB, and Setca unions. The Minister of Pensions said he understood the concerns but called for the debate to be held “at the appropriate level”, understood to mean at a European level.
Brussels Airlines has stated it understands the concerns raised by pilots and is calling for discussions on the issue with the federal government and all relevant parties. The airline noted that, like the unions, employers throughout the sector are pressing the authorities to find a resolution, reports the Mirror.
However, the carrier has expressed its displeasure over the strike notices, pointing out that the sector has already been disrupted by industrial action in 2025 and this year. “Furthermore, in the current geopolitical context, it would be irresponsible to further disrupt the Belgian aviation sector with strike action when the industry itself cannot address the concerns raised,” the airline said.
Brussels Airlines is appealing to all parties involved to reach a solution “through dialogue or to make their voices heard in ways that do not harm our passengers, our colleagues, or the company.”