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Belgium’s General Strike Halts Departures and Triggers Mass Cancellations at Brussels Airports

The walkout challenges Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s multiyear savings plan that unions say dismantles Belgium’s social model.

Overview

  • Brussels-Zaventem and Charleroi suspended all departures for Wednesday as security and ground-handling staff joined the national action.
  • Brussels Airport said only 93 of 203 scheduled arrivals would operate after carriers canceled the rest.
  • More than 400 flights were canceled overall at Zaventem, with airlines rerouting affected passengers.
  • Rail services ran on sharply reduced timetables, with SNCB operating only every second train on many routes and one in three on others.
  • Unions coordinated a three-day, stepped strike from Monday to Wednesday to pressure the five-party government over planned €9.2–10 billion savings by 2029–2030.