Belgium travel chaos as all flights to and from country set to be halted for 7 hours | World | News

A strike is set to spark air traffic chaos in a European country today. From 2pm local time this afternoon (1pm BST), flights in Belgium are expected to grind to a halt due to a surprise walkout by air traffic controllers.

This means that departures and arrivals at Belgium’s airports are likely to be impossible, be cancelled or be severely disrupted. The strike is expected to last until 9pm local time this evening, air traffic control provider Skeyes said. Crisis talks at Brussels Airport are now underway, however, the airport says all flights to and from the airport between 2pm and 9pm will be cancelled. Passengers are being urged not to turn up at the airport.

A spokesperson for the airport said: “Due to a wildcat strike at air traffic controller Skeyes there is no air traffic possible in Belgium between 2 pm and 9 pm on Tuesday 2 June. The airlines will have to cancel all scheduled flights.

“All flights to and from Brussels Airport between 2 pm and 9 pm will unfortunately have to be cancelled by the airlines.

“Please do not come to the airport if your flight is scheduled between 2 pm and 9 pm.”

Brussels Airlines, the nation’s flag carrier, says the impact “will inevitably be significant”.

Spokesperson Nico Cardone added: “That is why we are indeed asking departing travellers not to come to the airport until further notice.

“They should, however, keep an eye on their mobile phones or email for communication regarding their flight, in case the situation changes.”

The industrial action is linked to negotiations between management and trade unions over the planned introduction of a digital control centre in Namur for Liège and Charleroi airports, which would leave the existing control towers there without staff.

The centre is expected to become operational next year and will handle air traffic management for all departures and arrivals, as well as ground movements, at both airports.

This shift towards digital control towers is expected to reduce the long-term number of air traffic controllers required.

Air traffic is scheduled to resume after 9pm today.

Last night, controllers launched another spontaneous strike, causing Charleroi Airport to cancel 30 passenger flights whilst 40 cargo flights were affected at Liège Airport.