News / Air traffic controllers' walkout closes Belgian airspace tomorrow

DSV: STOCK MARKET REACTION XOM: OIL INVENTORY WARNINGWTC: EBL DEAL DETAILSWTC: EBL DEALEXPD: 'READ MY LIPS' HON: DEALS ON THE MENUEXPD: NEW RECORD XPO: THE REBOUNDCAT: PAYOUT UPDHL: LIGHTHOUSEMAERSK: ANOTHER UPGRADEFWRD: HEALTHY CORRECTION R: RYDER CEO SAYS

DSV: STOCK MARKET REACTION XOM: OIL INVENTORY WARNINGWTC: EBL DEAL DETAILSWTC: EBL DEALEXPD: 'READ MY LIPS' HON: DEALS ON THE MENUEXPD: NEW RECORD XPO: THE REBOUNDCAT: PAYOUT UPDHL: LIGHTHOUSEMAERSK: ANOTHER UPGRADEFWRD: HEALTHY CORRECTION R: RYDER CEO SAYS

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Strike-related airspace closure in Belgium means all flights will be cancelled at Liege and Brussels airports tomorrow.  

Brussels Airport confirmed to The Loadstar that, “due to the national demonstration on Thursday and the announced strike by air traffic controllers, the Belgian airspace will be closed [from 6.45am to 10.15pm]”.  

And it warned customers of “a very busy day at Brussels Airport on Friday”, adding that it “regret[ed] the inconvenience caused by this union action”. 

Brussels Airport handled just shy of 48,912 tonnes of flown cargo in February 2024, averaging around 1,745 tonnes a day, while Liege handles an average of 3,000 tonnes of freight a day.  

Both are major players in the perishables market after a bid to shift freighter flights from Amsterdam Schiphol to surrounding hubs, and while many shippers will have already sent their flowers ahead of Valentine’s Day on Friday, last-minute shipments could be in jeopardy.  

Liege Airport, which will also see no flights tomorrow, told The Loadstar it received some 730 tonnes of flowers a day, largely from Kenya, Ethiopia, Ecuador and Colombia.  

Meanwhile, nearby airports such as Maastricht, Paris, Ostend, or Frankfurt could see an increase in traffic as carriers seek to re-route flights. 

Indeed, Maastricht airport confirmed today that flights are being redirected to Maastricht Aachen Airport following the disruption.
“The Netherland’s second largest air cargo hub is set to welcome the extra passenger and cargo flights already scheduled, with MST prepared to manage further flights as demand requires,” said a press release.

“Our excellent location and transport links mean that disruption should be minimal for both passengers and cargo shipments,” added Joost Meijs, CEO of MST. 

The strikes are in protest of the new Belgian government‘s plans to reform pensions and the labour market. 

Is this the most confusing year in supply chains in the past four decades? Bjorn Vang Jensen, EVP, Ocean, Easy Speed International Logistics, thinks so

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    Belgium Brussels Airport Liege Airport Strike Strike inaction