All flights to and from Brussels today, a total of nine departures and the same number of arrivals, are canceled from Arlanda Airport, Bromma Airport and Gothenburg Landvetter Airport, Swedavia says.

The reason is a strike in Belgium, which the air traffic controllers in Brussels have joined. The air traffic controller strike began on Tuesday evening and is set to last for 24 hours.

It means that no planes are allowed to fly below 8,000 meters in Belgian airspace, and all air traffic to and from Belgium is stopped. No one can yet say how many thousands of passengers will be affected.

In addition to air traffic controllers, a number of other professional groups are on strike in Belgium, affecting the entire country, AFP reports. Railways are at a standstill and shops are closed.

Unions are fighting for higher wages and putting pressure on the right-wing government in Belgium ahead of the elections in May.

A ministerial meeting for NATO countries was to be held in the coming days, but there is still nothing to indicate that the meeting cannot be held. Flights are not running, but the express trains to London and Paris are not completely affected by the strike.

Source: TT