Update
Due to a strike action by air traffic controller Skeyes, there was no air traffic at Belgian airports last night. There is dissatisfaction about the agreements regarding the digital control center in Namur. Air traffic has resumed at Brussels Airport since 7 a.m., the other airports followed at 9:30 a.m.
Source: Belga
A spontaneous strike broke out at the air traffic controller on Monday night, out of dissatisfaction with agreements regarding the digital control center in Namur. The action caused disruption at all Belgian airports.
Brussels Airport now confirms that air traffic has resumed. About 25 departing flights are experiencing delays of 1 to 2 hours, says Quentin Mertens, spokesperson for Brussels Airport. Two arriving flights were diverted to other airports. There is also an impact on freight traffic, but the extent of this is not immediately clear.
At the airport of Charleroi About thirty departing or arriving flights were canceled this morning due to the spontaneous strike, a spokesperson said. Other flights are delayed. Air traffic was resumed at 9:30 am.
At the airport of Ostend two flights were delayed due to the strike at Skeyes. “Two flights were scheduled to depart this morning between 7 and 8 a.m., but due to the strike they have been postponed until 9:30 a.m.,” said spokesman Tom Rutsaert. “Skeyes has informed us that everything will start up again at that hour.”
It too courier company DHL has experienced “significant impact” from the spontaneous strike. A large part of DHL’s activities at Brussels Airport take place at night. “We have at least twelve flights that were not able to depart on time,” said Lorenzo Van de Pol, spokesperson for DHL Aviaton. “This of course has an impact for us, because shipments will not reach their final destination on time.”
On the Liège cargo airport 35 to 40 flights were affected by the action of the air traffic controllers. Flights are delayed or diverted to Cologne, a spokesperson said.
Digital control center
The action follows negotiations on an agreement with the unions on the digital control center in Namur. This center will become operational in the course of next year and will be responsible for managing the traffic of aircraft taking off and landing, as well as all ground movements, in Charleroi and Liège.
Earlier in the day, management and the unions had discussed the transition measures, working conditions and support measures. The preliminary agreement has already been accepted by the largest trade union organization, which represents the majority of air traffic controllers.