Union protest: Half of passenger flights at Brussels Airport to go ahead on 12 May
Around half of passenger flights to and from Brussels Airport will be able to go ahead on Tuesday, when a national trade union protest is taking place in Brussels. The Brussels police are warning of severe traffic disruption and advise against travelling to the capital by car. Tram and bus services will be disrupted across the country.
On Tuesday 12 May, various trade unions will once again take to the streets for a national demonstration. Through this action, the trade unions aim to make their voices heard against the federal government’s policies. They argue that people are being forced to work longer and irregular hours for lower pensions and frozen wages. They also fear further measures to balance the budget.
This will be the ninth time since early 2025 that operations at Brussels Airport have been disrupted by a union action. However, whilst previous actions usually meant that no passenger flights could depart from Brussels Airport, some operations can now be maintained: 113 of the 263 departing flights initially announced will go ahead. In addition, 146 of the 260 arrivals are still scheduled.
Many flights that are not taking off on Tuesday have been rebooked for Wednesday. The airport will be busier than usual on that day, and Brussels Airport advises passengers to make sure they arrive on time. At Charleroi Airport, all flights have been cancelled on Tuesday. Maastricht Aachen Airport in the Netherlands, close to the Belgian border, will see extra flights on Tuesday as airlines divert to it due to the disruption in Belgium.
The Brussels police are warning of severe traffic disruption due to the trade union demonstration and advise against travelling to the capital by car, recommending instead that people use the train as much as possible. The train operator SNCB/NMBS expects services to run as normal, but warns that trains to and from Brussels will be very busy.
There will be fewer trams and buses running in Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia. Across Flanders, an average of 65 per cent of all bus and tram services will operate, De Lijn announced.
The trade unions have also given notice of a strike in the education sector, but it is not yet known how many teachers will join the strike. The impact on lessons will vary from school to school.
Departure hall of Brussels Airport © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
Related news
