Strike at Charleroi Airport enters second day, all Friday flights cancelled

As announced by the management on Thursday evening, all flights at Brussels South Charleroi Airport have been cancelled for Friday as well. The website shows no flights arriving or departing on Friday morning.

On Thursday, the joint trade union front started a strike. A total of 186 return flights were cancelled, affecting more than 30,000 passengers. This number is set to rise as the strike enters its second day.

The unions speak of a "general feeling of dissatisfaction" among staff about working conditions, such as heavy workloads and an aggressive management style. Problems that, according to the unions, are not being addressed by the airport management, while the number of passengers at the airport increases year after year.

"The number of flights today is disproportionate to the number of employees. The unions have been saying this for months, but there has been no response from management," says Alain Goelens of the socialist union Setca.

"The number of flights today is disproportionate to the number of employees"

A consultation meeting between the airport management and the unions is scheduled for Friday morning. The management hopes to reach an agreement.

Passengers who had a flight today will be contacted by their airline. In case of questions, rebooking or refund requests, passengers should also contact their airline and not go to the airport. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

^{© BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR}