Flight cancellations are expected to affect passengers for several weeks at Brussels’ second-largest airport as air traffic controllers walk out.
Air traffic controllers at Brussels South Charleroi airport have announced strikes that will continue every night between 10pm and 8am until Saturday, 10 October.
The UK Foreign Office has advised any travellers departing or arriving from Charleroi airport to monitor local news and check with their airline or travel operator regarding potential delays and closures.
It also warned of a large-scale demonstration expected to take place in central Brussels on Friday, 9 October, but it is unclear whether it will affect public transport.
On Thursday, 17 September, the airport reported that a total of 66 flights due to arrive and leave Charleroi that day and the next had been cancelled.
Ryanair, Wizz Air, Spanish low-cost airline Volotea, Turkish-based Pegasus Airlines and Air Corsica all fly out of Charleroi.
Data from Flightradar24 shows 11 consecutive Ryanair flights due to arrive into Brussels were cancelled on Thursday night, including one from Manchester.
Cancellations continue on Friday morning, with Wizz Air and Ryanair flights cancelled throughout the day.
Two scheduled flights from the UK, Manchester and Newcastle on Ryanair, landed without delay.
More Ryanair flights due to depart the airport on Friday have been cancelled, including one to Manchester.
Flights to and from Brussels airport, the city’s main hub, appear to be unaffected by the strikes.
“We are monitoring the situation very closely and sharing verified general information through our official channels,” Charleroi airport said.
“For information regarding your specific flight, we encourage you to regularly check the communications from your airline.
“We share our passengers’ frustration and hope that the social conflict at Skeyes will be resolved quickly.”
The airport said it will continue to provide general updates as soon as new information becomes available.
It added that the strike action at Skeyes, the Belgian air traffic control provider, is related to an ongoing social dispute in Charleroi.
“As an airport, we have no influence over its progress or outcome. We hope that a solution will be found very quickly, in the interest of all travellers,” it added.
The Independent has contacted Skeyes for comment.
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