On Monday, on the national day of action of the Belgian trade unions, Brussels Airport is canceling all departing passenger flights. “We cannot guarantee the safety of travelers and staff,” said a spokesperson.
The decisive factor for the decision to cancel was that there are even fewer staff members for the security screening than expected. As a result, waiting times threatened to extend even longer than the estimated eight hours.
Earlier on Sunday evening, Brussels Airport spoke of about 300 canceled flights, 157 of which were departing. In total, this amounted to about 70 percent of all scheduled flights. So now Brussels Airport says to cancel all departing passenger flights.
Passenger flights can still land on Monday. Cargo flights, both arriving and departing, remain possible.
Belgian airlines are now busy looking for solutions. Brussels Airlines, the largest player at Brussels airport, had already canceled more than half of its flights, but is now extending that to all flights, a spokesman said. Eight transit flights that do not require a security check can continue. Alternative solutions are being sought for passengers of canceled flights.
Airline TUI Fly Belgium has already diverted a large part of its flights to the regional airports of Ostend, Antwerp and Liège. In response to Monday’s cancellations, the airline is allowing two more flights to take off from Ostend. TUI Fly is also moving two flights to Tuesday.