Hundreds of flights were canceled across Belgium on Tuesday after an unsanctioned “wildcat” strike by air traffic controllers at Skeyes led to a temporary suspension of national airspace operations.
Brussels Airport confirmed that due to the strike, no air traffic was possible between 2 pm and 9 pm, forcing airlines to cancel all arrivals and departures scheduled during peak disruption hours. Passengers were advised not to travel to the airport for affected flights.
The airport further stated that flights planned between 7 pm and 9 pm faced delays and would be rescheduled where possible after normal operations resumed later in the evening.
The disruption also impacted other airports, including Charleroi and Liège, where earlier cancellations were reported overnight. In total, around 200 flights were canceled at Brussels Airport alone.
The strike was organized by air traffic controllers protesting plans for a new digital control tower in Namur, which is intended to centralize operations currently managed by regional airports, including Liège and Charleroi, starting in 2027.
Skeyes, Belgium’s national air navigation service provider, is responsible for managing air traffic control across the country. Authorities indicated that operations were expected to return to normal after 9 pm, depending on the situation.
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