National strike in Belgium on 13 February 2019

[Porkchop]

Can't you ask Ukraine International for a rebooking to day -1 or +1, to be honest I don't think there will be much flying anyway ....

I have called them, according to them the plane is scheduled for departure so they see no reason to re-book it for free. It would cost me €220 to change the departure date from 13/02 to 14/02. I also know that they have absolutely no idea or control of the final situation there.

[RoMax]

Meanwhile TUI manages to operate a full schedule from alternate airports.

Im sorry but cancelling everything is the easy option

I applaud the actions of TUIfly to relocate their 36 flights to the Netherlands and France and arrange bus transport for all pax, indeed a great job of them.
But are you seriously going to compare 36 flights and 5000 local pax with 222 flights and 16000 pax of which a very significant part only travels trough BRU for a connection?! Besides the fact that the vast majority of SN's pax can be offered an alternative on either SN's flights before or after Wednesday or on alternative airlines avoiding BRU that day. Which is a lot more difficult on TUI's network with low frequency operations and few alternative airlines (even more so because this is low low season for them).

The most annoying thing about you is that you perfectly know how it works, but still can't leave it to write such bullshit comments.

[sean1982]

Meanwhile TUI manages to operate a full schedule from alternate airports.

Im sorry but cancelling everything is the easy option

I applaud the actions of TUIfly to relocate their 36 flights to the Netherlands and France and arrange bus transport for all pax, indeed a great job of them.
But are you seriously going to compare 36 flights and 5000 local pax with 222 flights and 16000 pax of which a very significant part only travels trough BRU for a connection?! Besides the fact that the vast majority of SN's pax can be offered an alternative on either SN's flights before or after Wednesday or on alternative airlines avoiding BRU that day. Which is a lot more difficult on TUI's network with low frequency operations and few alternative airlines (even more so because this is low low season for them).

The most annoying thing about you is that you perfectly know how it works, but still can't leave it to write such bullshit comments.

Bit touchy? Im wel aware of how connecting traffic works. However a large part of SN’s operation is ex-Thomas cook flights, exactly the same kind of operations TUI does. There is no reason why an effort shouldnt be made to get those people on their holiday on time, therefore my statement: cancelling everything is the easy option, with the emphasis on everything

[Sabena320]

Bit touchy? Im wel aware of how connecting traffic works. However a large part of SN’s operation is ex-Thomas cook flights, exactly the same kind of operations TUI does. There is no reason why an effort shouldnt be made to get those people on their holiday on time, therefore my statement: cancelling everything is the easy option, with the emphasis on everything

You realise it's winter and that on Wednesday the amount of holiday flights by SN is even not 2 percent of the total of flights?

[sean1982]

Bit touchy? Im wel aware of how connecting traffic works. However a large part of SN’s operation is ex-Thomas cook flights, exactly the same kind of operations TUI does. There is no reason why an effort shouldnt be made to get those people on their holiday on time, therefore my statement: cancelling everything is the easy option, with the emphasis on everything

You realise it's winter and that on Wednesday the amount of holiday flights by SN is even not 2 percent of the total of flights?

Even more the reason not to inconveniece those people

[Stij]

Mr. Descheemaeker, CEO of Brussels Airport, complains in the press that his company (and the rest of the economy) will loose a lot of money because of the strike.

The CEO of Brussels Airport is Arnaud Feist. Mr Descheemaeker is the politically appointed Chairman of the Board. And yes, his political views may differ from those of the real manager of the airport. But he is (fortunately) not in charge of the day-to-day operation of the airport.

I stand corrected, but as a Chairman of the Board he has to take care of all the key stake-holders... not just his share-holders. That is according to good modern governance guidelines, I doubt Brussels Airport always follows them.... politics...

Cheers,

Stij

[luchtzak]

Liege Airport also affected, roundabouts will be blocked, different employees of several companies around the airport will go on strike. Liege Airport will communicate the minimum staff to guarantee safety and security at the airport.

[luchtzak]

UPDATE - Unions at skeyes have called the air traffic controllers to join the general strike on 13 February. At this moment, the impact for #brusselsairport is still unclear. Please check our website for the latest updates & advice.

[RoMax]

You realise it's winter and that on Wednesday the amount of holiday flights by SN is even not 2 percent of the total of flights?

Even more the reason not to inconveniece those people

There are just 2(!) flights that pose a problem for Thomas Cook, the one to TFS and the one to HRG. Both have been changed to a CGN-TFS and CGN-HRG routing.

[luchtzak]

Due to a Belgian National Strike, Ryanair regrets to inform customers that it has been forced to cancel a number of flights on Wednesday 13th February 2019.

We have also decided to operate 12 flights to/from alternative airports (*) surrounding Brussels and Charleroi.

All affected customers have been contacted by email and text message and advised of their options: a full refund, rebooking on to the next available flight or transferring to an alternative flight.

(*) No idea what Ryanair means with alternative airports ...

[TLspotting]

Lille maybe, already busy with TUI...

[sn26567]

Currently, 144 flights are still scheduled at BRU, 24% of the normal number: 76 arrivals and 68 departures (UA, AF/KL, SK, DL, LO, PS, TK, BT, JU, OK, EZY/EZS, UX, ME, HU, 0B, AY, SU, 3O, EI, RO, ...).

Interestingly, KLM maintains all its flights: what an opportunity! Most SN destinations can be reached from AMS. Whereas LH, LX and OS cancelled all their flights together with SN when FRA, MUC VIE, ZRH could be nice alternatives. Lack of vision of the LH Group!

[loginas]

Wizz Air still plan to operate all of their flights into Charleroi airport tomorrow.

[SR20]

Wizz Air still plan to operate all of their flights into Charleroi airport tomorrow.

I wonder how they're gonna make it with an officialy closed airport !

[Homo Aeroportus]

Wizz Air still plan to operate all of their flights into Charleroi airport tomorrow.

I wonder how they're gonna make it with an officialy closed airport !

Indeed :

A0521/19 NOTAMN
Q) EBBU/QFALC/IV/NBO/A /000/999/5028N00427E005
A) EBCI B) 1902130530 C) 1902132100
E) AD CLSD DUE TO STRIKE
CREATED: 12 Feb 2019 10:48:00
SOURCE: EUECYIYN

H.A.

[RoMax]

Interestingly, KLM maintains all its flights: what an opportunity! Most SN destinations can be reached from AMS. Whereas LH, LX and OS cancelled all their flights together with SN when FRA, MUC VIE, ZRH could be nice alternatives. Lack of vision of the LH Group!

Already last week the full LH Group rebooked all pax:
- For transfer pax to fly an alternative routing whenever available via other hubs (only for Africa that's a real issue)
- For local pax it doesn't matter if they could fly out of BRU to another LHG hub, the point is that BRU is the problem tomorrow.

For KLM to be seen if they'll be able to operate their flights. But easier for them to keep them in the schedule, if they can't fly they put their pax on the trains to Schiphol. NS announced they don't expect issues on the Amsterdam - Brussels IC service (don't know for Thalys)

For an airline with a few flights to an impacted airport its also much easier than for an airline with a major presence. If you operate a few flights a day to an airport with reduced capacity, you can expect delays etc but you know chances are OK that you'll get through at some point for those few flights. For a home carrier operating like that is just insane.
And even for LH with so many daily flights to BRU, much easier for them to avoid that chaos and instead anticipate by replanning everything well in advance.

[b720]

Interestingly, KLM maintains all its flights: what an opportunity! Most SN destinations can be reached from AMS. Whereas LH, LX and OS cancelled all their flights together with SN when FRA, MUC VIE, ZRH could be nice alternatives. Lack of vision of the LH Group!

Already last week the full LH Group rebooked all pax:
- For transfer pax to fly an alternative routing whenever available via other hubs (only for Africa that's a real issue)
- For local pax it doesn't matter if they could fly out of BRU to another LHG hub, the point is that BRU is the problem tomorrow.

For KLM to be seen if they'll be able to operate their flights. But easier for them to keep them in the schedule, if they can't fly they put their pax on the trains to Schiphol. NS announced they don't expect issues on the Amsterdam - Brussels IC service (don't know for Thalys)

For an airline with a few flights to an impacted airport its also much easier than for an airline with a major presence. If you operate a few flights a day to an airport with reduced capacity, you can expect delays etc but you know chances are OK that you'll get through at some point for those few flights. For a home carrier operating like that is just insane.
And even for LH with so many daily flights to BRU, much easier for them to avoid that chaos and instead anticipate by replanning everything well in advance.

LX rebooked their pax only yesterday afternoon. They insisted that their flights are operating tomorrow, up to yesterday afternoon.. they only rebooked on the following day, they refused to rebook out of Amsterdam or Frankfur on the 13th.

[loginas]

That will be difficult in an airport that is completely closed!

Now Wizz Air have delayed their fligths till 14th. But they still sell them using original schedulle.

[sn26567]

There are just 2(!) flights that pose a problem for Thomas Cook, the one to TFS and the one to HRG. Both have been changed to a CGN-TFS and CGN-HRG routing.

Do you mean that those will be the only SN flights operating on 13 Feb (in addition to the African and Toronto flights departing from the outstation to arrive in BRU on 14 Feb) ?

Will they be operated by SN or EW? If SN, when do the positioning flights depart from BRU?

[Porkchop]

I can't imagine that any flights will depart tomorrow. Almost everything is cancelled - they will not keep the airport open for a few flights only.