Cancellation of all flights departing from Charleroi
All flights departing from Charleroi airport have been canceled from this Monday 12:00 p.m. and for the rest of the day, while arrivals will be maintained, Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) announced on Monday in the middle morning.
Due to the national demonstration organized in Brussels, the airport is facing a significant unforeseen shortage of agents from the external security provider and security can no longer be ensured, he explains.
Passengers who had a flight scheduled to depart this afternoon are invited to contact their airline, if it has not already contacted them, for a new reservation or a refund.
BSCA apologizes for the inconvenience caused.
09h12
Road traffic becomes complicated
Significant traffic jams are underway in Brussels, especially on the inner ring road, Brussels Mobility spokesperson Inge Paemen reported Monday morning. No accidents were reported, but a number of tunnels were closed due to traffic.
The Brussels police had advised against traveling to the capital by car due to the union demonstration for pensions. Several thousand people are expected there. Public transport services are also severely disrupted.
08:55
An alternative service to SNCB
On the rail network, the alternative service will be implemented Monday morning as planned, said SNCB spokesperson Bart Crols. In addition to national lines, a number of international trains have also been canceled due to strike action.
The railway union organizations have filed a strike notice. They thus offer railway staff the possibility of participating in union action dedicated to pensions, in particular a demonstration in Brussels. The disruptions are considerable: only one in three IC trains is running.
08h37
An empty Brussels Central station
At the usual rush hour, the aisles of Brussels Central station are particularly empty.
08h24
What is the situation on public transport at 8 a.m.?
Just about every commuter, in one way or another, is impacted by this strike. Whether taking the bus, tram, metro or train, disruptions are everywhere. The network of TEC is strongly impacted, the company advises finding an alternative way to get to work.
Regarding the SNCBonly one train in three runs.
In Brussels, strong disruptions also on the network the STIB. To take the metro for example, only line 1 works.
Finally, take the plane is also complicated this Monday, whether in Zaventem or Charleroi, we must expect significant delays including a strike by security agents. At Brussels Airport, all Brussels Airlines flights are canceled.
07h45
The police advise against traveling to Brussels by car
The Brussels police expect major traffic jams on Monday in the center of the capital due to the union demonstration for pensions. She advises against going to Brussels by car even though she is aware that alternatives will be very limited given the disruptions to public transport.
“It is difficult to estimate the extent of traffic problems because many people will telework or take time off to look after their children”says a spokesperson for the Brussels-Capital – Ixelles police. Many schools will in fact be closed in the north of the country.
There is talk of around a hundred buses transporting demonstrators from the provinces to Brussels. “We will see on Monday how many people are actually present, but according to the information circulating, we should expect a lot of people.”
The buses will drop off the demonstrators around 9-10 a.m. at Place de l’Albertine before heading to Boulevard Albert II. The procession must reach Place Poelaert
07h28
Air traffic also affected
The country’s main airports will not be spared. At Brussels Airport, the activity of baggage handling companies and security personnel is expected to be significantly disrupted.
At least four out of ten flights are expected to be canceled. Brussels Airlines, for its part, canceled half of its European flights on Monday.
07h14
The TEC also affected
In Wallonia, Tec also announces disruptions and recommends that its travelers consider an alternative solution for their travel.
The Tec will be able to inform users of the canceled routes on Monday morning, subject to the information reaching it.
07h02
SNCB announces minimum service
According to SNCB, only one in three trains connecting major cities (IC) will run on Monday and almost all trains scheduled for peak hours (P) will be stopped. For L and S trains, the proportion is estimated at 20%.
The railway union organizations have in fact filed a strike notice which runs from January 12, 10 p.m. to January 13 at the same time in order to allow their members to participate in the union action dedicated to pensions.
06h41
Here are the lines running on the STIB network this Monday
Metro line 1, extended to Erasme, is served, as are tram lines 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 51 and 92, communicates the Stib in a message published on X on the situation at 5:30 a.m.
In addition, buses along lines 12, 36, 46, 50, 53, 59, 65, 71, 73, 87 (extended Étangs Noirs) and 95 also run Monday morning.
Public transport services will be disrupted this Monday, January 13, as part of a joint union front action and a demonstration in Brussels to defend “decent pensions”. Several thousand or even tens of thousands of demonstrators are expected this morning in the capital.
The FGTB, the CSC and the CGSLB fear “a frontal attack on pensions“from the federal negotiators of the Arizona coalition.”Everyone has the right to a decent pension. But if trainer De Wever wants to make three billion savings on pensions, it is the workers who will foot the bill“, warn the unions in a leaflet explaining the reasons for their action.
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