100 flights cancelled

A strike by baggage handlers at Brussels airport has caused the cancellation of around 100 flights, affecting thousands of passengers during a major school holiday, an official said yesterday. Some 300 travellers spent Thursday night at Brussels-Zaventem airport after handlers at Belgian firm Aviapartner went on strike, airport spoks woman Nathalie Pierard told AFP.

Pierard said about 100 departing and arriving flights were cancelled, mainly at Ryanair, as media reported the strike was over demands for higher staffing levels. “Friday is one of the busiest days of the autumn. A total of 47,000 passengers are due to leave today,” Pierard said. Many other flights were delayed, she added. A meeting between union delegates and at Aviapartner was due Friday in a bid to resolve the dispute.