A nationwide demonstration will affect travel in Belgium next week. Brussels Airport has already planned to cancel its operations on Thursday. "In order to continue to ensure the safety of passengers and staff, we have decided, in consultation with the airlines, not to operate any departing passenger flights on 12 March", says the airport management.
Air travel will not be the only sector affected. Trains and public transport are also expected to operate at a slower pace. The SNCB states: "Due to a trade union strike against certain government decisions, fewer trains will be running from 10pm on Sunday 8 March to Wednesday 11 March inclusive (last train)".
The rail company recommends that passengers consult its mobile application to keep abreast of cancelled trains, but visibility will not exceed 24 hours.
As for public transport, the STIB expects the network to be severely disrupted on 12 March. The operator warns: "We will do our utmost to provide at least part of the service and we will keep you informed in real time of the situation on our network. However, we invite those who are able to do so to plan alternative solutions for travelling to Brussels on that day".
A repeat performance in Italy
Italian travellers will not be spared the social discontent. Since the end of the Olympic break, calls for strike action have been multiplying. The next one is scheduled for 11 March, and will affect Italo's operations in particular, from 9am to 5pm. But the strike calendar is filling up by the day, and March 18 is already shaping up to be a complicated day in the air transport sector. Milan airports (Malpensa and Linate) are likely to be affected, as is of course ITA, which has not yet announced its flight schedule.
