Brussels Airport has cancelled all departing flights on Thursday (13 February) due to a national strike being held by trade unions in Belgium.
The country’s main hub airport said it had decided to cancel all departures on 13 February to “ensure the safety of passengers and staff”.
The airport added that a “large number” of security staff and baggage handlers were expected to walk out and that would cause major disruption to its operations on Thursday.
“Airlines will contact passengers whose flight has been impacted. We ask [passengers] not to come to the airport on that day,” said Brussels Airport in a statement.
The airport also warned that cancellations were “also possible” on arriving flights on Thursday.
Unions are taking strike action on Thursday as part of a dispute with the Belgian government over its plans to reform pensions.
Charleroi Airport has also moved to cancel all departures on Thursday with only incoming flights from Schengen area destinations being allowed to operate.
“Passengers scheduled to fly from Charleroi this Thursday will be contacted by their airline for a new reservation or a refund,” added the airport in a statement.
Belgian rail operator SNCB said it had not received a strike notice for industrial action on 13 February.
“Disruptions remain possible due to the expected high number of passengers on the trains to and from Brussels,” warned SNCB in a statement.
“We advise you to plan your journey shortly before your departure via sncb.be or the SNCB app.”