Belgium travel chaos as all flights to and from European country to be halted today

This means that all departures and arrivals at Belgium’s airports will effectively be impossible. According to unions at Skeyes, the strike is expected to last until 9pm this evening. Crisis talks at Brussels airport are now underway, however, the airport says all flights to and from the airport between 2pm and 9pm will be cancelled. Passengers are being urged to not turn up to the airport.

A spokesperson for the airport said: “Due to a wildcat strike at air traffic controller skeyes there is no air traffic possible in Belgium between 2 pm and 9 pm on Tuesday 2 June. The airlines will have to cancel all scheduled flights.

“All flights to and from Brussels Airport between 2 pm and 9 pm will unfortunately have to be cancelled by the airlines.

“Please do not come to the airport if your flight is scheduled between 2 pm and 9 pm.”

Brussels Airlines, the nations flag carrier, says the impact “will inevitably be significant”.

Spokesperson Nico Cardone added: “That is why we are indeed asking departing travelers not to come to the airport until further notice.

“They should, however, keep an eye on their mobile phones or email for communication regarding their flight, in case the situation changes.”

The industrial action is linked to negotiations between management and trade unions over the planned introduction of a digital control centre in Namur for Liège and Charleroi airports, which would leave the existing control towers there without staff.

The centre is expected to become operational next year and will handle air traffic management for all departures and arrivals, as well as ground movements, at both airports.

This shift towards digital control towers is expected to reduce the long-term number of air traffic controllers required.

Air traffic is scheduled to resume after 9pm today.

Last night controllers launched a spontaneous strike causing Charleroi Airport to cancel 30 passenger flights whilst 40 cargo flights were affecred at Liège Airport.