Tens of thousands of travellers have been met with severe delays and cancellations in Belgium today, as a national strike has ground travel to a halt.
All departing flights have been cancelled from Brussels South Charleroi Airport and Brussels Airport in Zaventem, while all arriving flights at Charleroi have been cancelled.
Meanwhile, most metro, bus and tram lines were not running and all entrances to the Brussels-Central railway and metro station were shuttered this morning, as a protest march moved through the capital, the Brussels Times reported.
On Tuesday, 14 October, the joint trade union front enacted a protest against reforms by the federal government impacting pensions, salaries and working conditions.
The sudden move was expected to cause chaos for the country’s transport network.
Belgium strikes: Which airports are affected?
Brussels Airport had previously warned of “major disruptions” on the day of industrial action, which involves members of its security staff, before cancelling all flights today.
The airport handles about 200 departing flights per day.
Airport officials have warned travellers that Wednesday, 15 October, is likely to be busy following the closure.
"Be sure to come to the airport on time," it says. "We recommend you to check our app to know at what time to arrive for your flight."
While the country's major airports cancelled flights, the smaller regional airports in Antwerp and Ostend remain fully operational, the Brussels Times reported.
"All flights and airport operations will continue as planned on Tuesday," the regional airports said. "Travellers can depart from or arrive at both airports with peace of mind."
Are metro, tram and bus services be impacted by the strike?
STIB-MIVB, Brussels travel network for metro, tram and bus services, also expected "major disruptions" on its network today.
"We will do everything possible to ensure at least a partial service and inform our travellers in real time about the situation on our network," the company said last week, while urging tourists to look for "alternative solutions to move around Brussels".
Only two of the city's metro lines - the M1 and M5 - are running, while just seven tram and 10 bus routes remain operational at reduced frequency, according to STIB-MIVB.
The STIB-MIVB app Floya is useful for tourists needing to find transport methods such as bicycles and scooters. It also shows which bus, metro and tram lines are still operating.
Although national railway operator SNCB had not received a strike notice for the upcoming demonstration, it added that disruptions “remain possible” due to the expected high number of passengers on the trains to and from Brussels.
One such disruption has already taken place. At around 10:45 am, protestors set off towards Brussels South Station, via Brussels Central Station, disrupting traffic and leaving Brussels-Central station closed.
Will retail also be impacted?
Tourists in Belgium may also find it difficult to make the most of their holiday today, as unions are also calling on the retail sector to get involved with the strike.
Many workers at supermarkets, fashion retailers and DIY stores are expected to leave their workplace to demonstrate, which may result in swathes of shops suddenly closing.
