Flight cancellations are anticipated to affect passengers for several weeks at Brussels South Charleroi Airport due to ongoing strikes by air traffic controllers. The industrial action is scheduled to take place every night between 10pm and 8am, continuing until Saturday, 10 October.
On Thursday, 17 September, the airport reported that 66 flights scheduled for arrival and departure that day and the following day had been cancelled. Cancellations continued on Friday morning, impacting Wizz Air and Ryanair flights throughout the day. Airlines operating from Charleroi include Ryanair, Wizz Air, Volotea, Pegasus Airlines, and Air Corsica.
The UK Foreign Office has advised travellers using Charleroi airport to monitor local news and check with their airline or travel operator for updates on potential delays and closures. The Foreign Office also noted a large-scale demonstration planned for central Brussels on Friday, 9 October, though its impact on public transport is currently unclear.
Brussels Airport, the city's main hub, appears to be unaffected by these strikes. Charleroi airport stated it is monitoring the situation and providing general information, encouraging passengers to check with their airlines for specific flight details. The airport added that the strike action at Skeyes, the Belgian air traffic control provider, is linked to an ongoing social dispute in Charleroi.