Charleroi Airport to cancel all flights on 12 May due to national strike
All flights to and from Charleroi Airport will be cancelled on 12 May, the airport operator announced on Tuesday. Trade unions are organising a national day of action that day against the federal government's policies.
"Due to this day of action and the lack of staff to guarantee flight safety, Charleroi Airport will be unable to operate the scheduled flights," the airport said in a press release. Passengers affected will be contacted by their airline in the coming days regarding rebooking or a refund.
Brussels Airport had previously announced that fewer than half of scheduled departures would be able to go ahead on 12 May. The airport appears to be anticipating a lesser impact than on previous national action days, when no passenger flights departed at all.
Brussels Airlines is cutting its services by around 60 per cent on the day. The airline said it is prioritising flights carrying the highest number of direct passengers, and that those whose flights are cancelled will be offered the choice to rebook or request a refund. "Further cancellations cannot be ruled out," it added.
Actions are 'irresponsible', airline says
Next week will mark the ninth time since the start of 2025 that air traffic has been disrupted by a trade union action not directed at the aviation sector itself. Brussels Airlines has been openly critical of the repeated disruption.
"Brussels Airlines is not involved in the industrial dispute between the trade unions and the federal government in Belgium. Yet the consequences always fall on our passengers, our colleagues and our company," a spokesperson said. "In the current geopolitical climate, such actions are irresponsible."
© BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR
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