UPDATEThe impact of the 24-hour strike among the pilots of Brussels Airlines is significant. Of the 112 planned flights, only 36 will be able to go ahead, the airline reports, and that could become even fewer during the course of the day. Many of the more than 14,000 passengers who were scheduled to depart today have now rebooked their trips.
The airline estimated yesterday that it would have to cancel “approximately 70 to 80 percent” of flights and it appears that it is not far off today. It is possible that some of the 36 planned flights will still be cancelled, but all planned flights were able to depart around 9:30 am.
Brussels Airlines is committed to ensuring that everyone will reach their destination by Sunday evening at the latest. A small portion of the passengers already departed on Friday and most of the others can still depart on Saturday. This usually happens with a flight from another airline of the Lufthansa Group. For the African flights, Brussels Airlines called on Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines or Air France, among others.
5 hours
The pilots started a strike at 5 am. This was announced yesterday and is supported by three unions. The conflict has to do with the so-called cafeteria plan, a series of extra-legal benefits that the pilots receive in addition to their regular wages. According to the socialist union BBTK, management refuses to index that cafeteria plan, which reduces the purchasing power of the pilots.
The airline will have to cancel 70 to 80 percent of scheduled flights on Saturday due to the pilots’ strike. © Photo News
According to union secretary Olivier Van Camp of ABVV/BBTK, a judge has ruled in their favor and the management had promised to apply the indexation, but has now announced that it will appeal against the ruling. That was the final straw for the pilots. “Unfortunately, we have to take action again, because the management is once again not keeping its promises,” he says.
The French-speaking Christian union CNE is also calling on cabin crew to join the strike. At the end of last year, a strike by the stewards and stewardesses was avoided just in time. The reason was the failure to respect various collective labor agreements. For example, the airline’s management did not consult the employee representatives before publishing the employee schedules, it is said. And the access conditions for the position of cabin chief were also unilaterally adjusted.
LOOK. What are affected Brussels Airlines travelers entitled to?
“Brussels Airlines confirms with regret that the majority of flights on Saturday, January 13 will be canceled due to the wildcat strike organized by the pilot unions,” the company responded on Friday. Travelers whose flights are canceled would receive a message. They can ask for their money back or rebook on another flight.
“Our teams are doing everything they can to get people to their destinations as quickly as possible, in close cooperation with the other airlines of Lufthansa Group,” said Nico Cardone, spokesperson for Brussels Airlines.
“Wildcat strike”
The airline regretted the “wildcat strike” earlier in the day. “A strike is not a solution to the conflict, on the contrary: it has a negative impact on our company and puts pressure on future investments,” the airline said. “We call on the unions to come around the table to continue the discussions and prevent unnecessary damage to Brussels Airlines.”
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2024-01-13 09:33:45
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