- Air traffic controllers at Charleroi suspend strike
- Unions enter consultations with external mediator
- Dispute centres on night-shift bonus payments
- Roughly 160 flights cancelled prior to suspension
- Passengers typically not entitled to cash compensation
Air traffic controllers at Brussels South Charleroi Airport have temporarily suspended their planned overnight strike action to enter consultations with an external mediator. The industrial action led by unions representing staff at Belgium’s air navigation service provider skeyes had previously caused widespread flight cancellations and disruptions during nightly walkouts. Following a proposal by Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke to appoint an external mediator the unions agreed to pause the nightly walkouts to attempt a negotiated resolution.
The dispute centres on a disagreement over night-shift bonus payments and wage allocations with unions pushing for allowances that match those at Liège Airport. The overnight strikes began on 16 September and were originally mapped to run nightly from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM local time through 10 October 2026. Prior to the suspension the rolling overnight stoppages forced the cancellation of roughly 160 flights heavily impacting low-cost carriers like Ryanair operating out of Charleroi.
Even flights scheduled outside the direct 10 PM to 8 AM window experienced disruptions due to aircraft and flight crews being out of position for early morning departures. Because air traffic control strikes are generally categorised as extraordinary circumstances under EU regulations passengers are typically not entitled to standard cash compensation for delays or cancellations though airlines remain obligated to provide refunds rebooking options and basic care.
Controllers have struck every night from 22:00 to 08:00 local time. The nightly action began on 16 September. Even though the strike takes place overnight, it creates a knock-on effect for daytime flights. When late-evening arriving aircraft cannot land, they are left out of position, forcing the airport to cancel the next morning’s first scheduled departures. The airport’s major low-cost carriers, particularly Ryanair and Wizz Air, experienced the vast majority of these cancellations. Flights operating out of Brussels Airport (Zaventem), the city’s primary international hub, remained unaffected by this localised dispute.
