Belgium Braces for Major Air Travel Disruptions on March 31 Due to General Strike

Air traffic in Belgium is set to face severe disruptions on March 31 due to a general strike called by the country’s two largest trade unions, airport authorities warned on Monday.

At Brussels Airport, the busiest in Belgium, no passenger flights will depart next Monday, and “cancellations are also possible for arriving flights,” according to Brussels Airport Company.

A large portion of security and ground handling staff is expected to participate in the strike, prompting airlines to suspend all departing flights. Passengers are advised not to travel to Brussels-Zaventem Airport on that day.

At Charleroi Airport in southern Belgium, the country’s second-largest hub, operators also anticipate a “significant impact” on air traffic due to the strike.

Unions Protest Government Reforms

The strike is part of an ongoing wave of protests against the reform policies of Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s conservative government, which took office seven weeks ago.

Belgium’s two largest trade unions, the Christian Trade Union Confederation (CSC) and the General Federation of Belgian Labour (FGTB), have called for a nationwide general strike across both public and private sectors on March 31. The strike focuses on defending pensions and purchasing power.

The government coalition agreement, reached on January 31, includes plans to abolish early retirement options, sparking strong opposition from military personnel, police officers, and railway workers.

Additional protests are planned in the coming weeks. Railway unions have already launched a week-long protest, disrupting the operations of the Belgian National Railway Company (SNCB) through Sunday.