Belgium faces mass flight cancelations amid strike

Flights have been suspended as Belgium air traffic control authority closed down its air space. The shutdown comes as a nationwide strike led to staffing uncertainties.

Around 50,000 passengers are believed to have been affected by the closure with at least 400 flights set to be canceled.

The cancellation began at 22:00 (21:00 GMT) on Tuesday night and will run for 24 hours.

Air traffic agency Skeyes said that there was "no certainty about the number of staff in a limited number of key posts".

The only option left was to not allow air traffic, it said.

A national strike has been called by three major trade union federations.

Affected passengers are being urged not to travel to Brussels Airport and to contact their airline. Around 650 flights operate through Brussels Airport every day.

Brussels Airport has revealed there will be “no flights in or out” of the hub and has updated its travel advice on its website.

Above 7,500m (24,600 ft), flights are coordinated with the aid of Europe-wide air traffic control organization Eurocontrol. Government and military flights will not be affected.

Belgians are facing widespread disruption to public transport on the ground, too. Broadcaster VRT reports that just half of the scheduled trains are expected to operate.

The Eurostar services between Brussels and London or Paris are expected to run - but passengers heading to Lille or Calais will face disruption.

Many airlines had already canceled or rescheduled flights head of some expected disruption during the strike.

The day of national strikes, called by Belgium's three major trade union federations, follows a disagreement over wage growth, which is limited to 0.8% for the next two years.

Unions are calling for an increase in wages, benefits, and pensions to what they believe is a reasonable living level, as well as improvements to work-life balance.