National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

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Passenger
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National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by Passenger »

13th February 2019: sss...strike. Code red for the whole Kingdom of Belgium.

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sn26567
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Re: Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2019

Post by sn26567 »

Passenger wrote: 22 Jan 2019, 15:34 13th February 2019: sss...strike. Code red for the whole Kingdom of Belgium.
Trains (SNCB/NMBS) and buses (De Lijn, STIB/MIVB) serving Brussels Airport all call for strike on 13 Feb.
André
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jan_olieslagers
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Re: Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2019

Post by jan_olieslagers »

Belgium is becoming very strong at panicking before time... remember the "extreme bad weather" announced for the last couple of days? Went by almost unnoticed, in the end. "Code red" because a few "groupuscules" call for strike? Wait and see - but do have a plan B in place, of course - as always, when travelling. I for one am not impressed, as yet.

Passenger
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Re: Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2019

Post by Passenger »

jan_olieslagers wrote: 31 Jan 2019, 21:34 Belgium is becoming very strong at panicking before time... remember the "extreme bad weather" announced for the last couple of days? Went by almost unnoticed, in the end. "Code red" because a few "groupuscules" call for strike? Wait and see - but do have a plan B in place, of course - as always, when travelling. I for one am not impressed, as yet.
When fuel suppliers or luggage loaders or cleaning or catering goes on strike, it will be code yellow for many airlines. But when the Fire Brigade or Customs or the Border Police or ATC joins the strike, no flights will take off or land. When that happens, "code red" is a fair description. And as usual, just one of these four will go on strike, allowing all others to be "present at work but unable to work". Which means that the trade unions don't have to pay a strike fee to hundreds of people.

Aerofool
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Re: Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2019

Post by Aerofool »

ACV-Transcom just announced that they call for a strike at skeyes and at the handlers on the 13th of Febr...

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luchtzak
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Re: Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2019

Post by luchtzak »

Aerofool wrote: 01 Feb 2019, 09:40 ACV-Transcom just announced that they call for a strike at skeyes and at the handlers on the 13th of Febr...
From 13 February 06:00 am until 14 February 06:00 am

https://www.aviation24.be/miscellaneous ... r-traffic/

sean1982
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Re: Strikes affecting Belgian airports in 2019

Post by sean1982 »

luchtzak wrote: 01 Feb 2019, 12:33
Aerofool wrote: 01 Feb 2019, 09:40 ACV-Transcom just announced that they call for a strike at skeyes and at the handlers on the 13th of Febr...
From 13 February 06:00 am until 14 February 06:00 am

https://www.aviation24.be/miscellaneous ... r-traffic/
How we will make a fool of ourselves again internationally :roll:

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sn26567
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Re: National strikes in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by sn26567 »

Brussels Airlines has already announced that it is cancelling 28 out of its 222 flights on 13 Feb. Passengers have been informed and rebooked on alternative flights.

Brussels Airlines is waiting for more information about the strike (who will participate? ATCos, handlers, etc.) before taking further measures.
André
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telspace2005
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Re: National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by telspace2005 »

Do like intelligent people do, choose LUX. Never on strike, easy and cheap parking, no stress, easy going airport.

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luchtzak
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Re: National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by luchtzak »

telspace2005 wrote: 01 Feb 2019, 15:56 Do like intelligent people do, choose LUX. Never on strike, easy and cheap parking, no stress, easy going airport.
Yes, and Luxembourg Airport has the same network as Brussels Airport :lol:

telspace2005
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Re: National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by telspace2005 »

What's the point to have a "network", if you have to wait 7 days for your luggages, when strikes hit the airport unexpectivly, when airport closes for 24 hours due to energy problems, when trains are suddenly not running and so on...

Give me an airport I cannot reach from LUX?

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luchtzak
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Re: National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by luchtzak »

Then ... fly from Luxembourg, I don't mind. I think every country has its issues. In Belgium you are allowed to call on strike, I am not the one to judge over this right.

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Re: National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by Homo Aeroportus »

Well, all in all LUX is not a bad alternative.

If your flight doesn't leave out of LUX before 10:30, you can leave home the same day.
There is a train leaving Brussels at 05:33, arriving at Luxembourg Central Station only 3h17 minutes later, i.e. at 08:50.

You then catch the Bus 16 that leaves every 10 minutes and brings you to the airport in about 35 minutes.

Same smooth ride on your way back.
If your flight doesn't land after 19:00, hop on the bus Gus to catch your last train of the day that arrives in Brussels at 23:28.

Return train ticket 2nd class non Refund is a mere 57€. For a 6.5h ride this is less than 9€/hour, a bargain.
Trains are either direct or with one change in Arlon. Transfer time is only 4 minutes so wether direct or not they are all given as 3h17 minutes journey. Probably because anyhow they will both be late so what the fuss for 4 minutes.


Remains to hope that the NMBS/SNCB is not on strike that day. :mrgreen:

H.A.

telspace2005
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Re: National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by telspace2005 »

CGN is also a good option for a short trip. Leave the car at P+R Weiden West (free parking) and buy a 2,90 Euros train ticket direct to CGN train station. DB is more realiable that SNCB.

For LUX, the Flibco bus service is great.

PttU
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Re: National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by PttU »

telspace2005 wrote: 01 Feb 2019, 16:57 What's the point to have a "network", if you have to wait 7 days for your luggages, when strikes hit the airport unexpectivly, when airport closes for 24 hours due to energy problems, when trains are suddenly not running and so on...

Give me an airport I cannot reach from LUX?
ANR ? :lol:

convair
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Re: National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by convair »

737MAX wrote: 01 Feb 2019, 21:51 Strike? Sure. But for a reason, and a really good reason. What are the reasons for this new « national » strike? Nobody will know, including many strikers, unfortunately.
Since when do you need a "good" reason for a strike?
The unions have a "strikingly" ( ;) ) heavy program as there are different types of strikes: salary claim strikes, workload strikes, too high risks strikes, loss of jobs strikes, bad weather strikes, too few coffee breaks strikes; more days off strikes, warning strikes (one of their favourites), political strikes (very trendy too nowadays), etc...
No wonder "practice" strikes are necessary to drill the troops and keep them obedient and in good shape. :)

Porkchop
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Re: National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by Porkchop »

I wonder what will happen to my flight.
13/02 departure @05:50, which is 10 minutes before the strike.

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sn26567
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Re: National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by sn26567 »

Welcome to Aviation24, porkchop.

I think that the strike does not start at 06:00, but lasts the whole day, 24 hours.
André
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Porkchop
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Re: National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by Porkchop »

According to the article here:
https://www.aviation24.be/miscellaneous ... r-traffic/

"The strike will start on 13 February at 06:00 (UTC +1) and will last until 14 February 06:00".

If this information is correct, I think it's quite important for people to know. Especially if you travel on 14th of February between 00:01-06:00. They might read about the national strike on the 13th and think they are safe.

I called my airline (UIA) their recommendation was to travel with only hand luggage.

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luchtzak
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Re: National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

Post by luchtzak »

Indeed, it was a union member who announced the "schedule" for the strike. But when I read another site, I found this: The rail unions have all joined in with the strike call, which as usual runs from 2200 the evening before the day of the strike until 2200 on 13 February itself. However some trains will run: since last year, the SNCB is legally bound to lay on a minimum service. The authority is already making plans to provide that service, for the third time since the new legislation came into force, a spokesperson said.

So, at the rail unions, the strike usual runs from 2200 the evening before the day of the strike until 2200 on 13 February itself.

Anyway, before 06:00 am there isn't that much scheduled flights activity at airports. But I will check the correct timing.

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