Strike action by air traffic controllers at Brussels Zaventem airport has entered a second day, causing disruption to hundreds of passengers.
Around 50 flights have been cancelled today due to ongoing talks over a proposed dispute settlement, including a rise in the minimum retirement age.
The airport only reopened on April 3 following a three week closure because of bomb attacks in one of the departure halls on March 22.
A lot of people called in sick again," a spokesman for air traffic authority Belgocontrol said. "We are limited to 15 movements an hour until 10 am, when we will re-evaluate the situation."
A spokeswoman for Brussels Airport said some 50 flights had been cancelled at the airport so far on Wednesday, out of about 400 scheduled flights.
IATA director general and chief executive, Tony Tyler, condemned the action by unions: “This action by air traffic controllers is a kick in the teeth for all the airline and airport staff who have worked so hard to reconnect Brussels to the world after the appalling terrorist attack just three weeks ago.
“It is the height of irresponsibility to cut a vital service and doing so without warning can only be seen as malicious.
“If we cannot count on simple human decency from such highly compensated professionals then it’s time for governments to find ways to guarantee the availability of air traffic control services.”
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