Flight Cancelled Due to Strike at Charleroi Airport

charleroi, belgium - All flights, both departing and arriving, at Charleroi Airport have been cancelled due to the announced 24-hour strike. Passengers are disappointed and advised to contact their airline.

All flights to and from Charleroi Airport are cancelled. The airport's communication director, Nathalie Pierard, stated, 'Due to the strong mobilization of union delegates, we cannot guarantee everyone's safety.'

Passengers scheduled to depart during the day are advised not to go to the airport and to contact their airline.

Many travelers received the bad news when they arrived at the airport on Thursday morning. Numerous airlines had sent emails overnight about the cancelled flights, but not everyone may have seen them understandably during the rush to be ready for departure at Charleroi on time. There was nothing to do but return home disappointed.

The airport operator's management announced on Wednesday that it would reduce operational capacity to 15% as a precautionary measure. Affected passengers, both arriving and departing, would be contacted by their airline, according to Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA).

'It is highly recommended to travel with only hand luggage, as we cannot guarantee the handling of checked baggage,' was the advice for those who would still have a flight. Passengers were also advised to check the flight status before traveling to the terminal.

The management refers to 'wild actions.' The unions had submitted a strike notice last Wednesday, but actions would only be possible from September 19, according to the management. The notice includes most operational functions at the airport, such as baggage handling, check-in, or aircraft supply.

The Christian white-collar union CNE stated on Wednesday evening that no official strike call had been made by the employee representatives. However, the situation is tense among the staff, who are 'annoyed and exhausted,' making a strike in the near future not ruled out.

Since the strike notice was filed, there has only been email contact between unions and management, CNE also notes. The social conflict revolves around working conditions, with a high absenteeism rate significantly increasing workload. The management style is also being questioned.