Ryanair cabin crew based in Belgium are set to strike on 30 and 31 December, as well as on 1, 7, and 8 January next year in protest against the Irish airline's refusal to pay staff members Belgium's legal minimum wage, Belga News Agency reports.
The strike, which was threatened last month and officially announced last week, is expected to cause significant disruptions at Charleroi (Brussels South) Airport, with 128 flight cancellations expected over the New Year's weekend alone. It is not yet known how many people will be affected.
Earlier this week, Charleroi Airport CEO Philippe Verdonck estimated that the disruptions would impact some 19,000 passengers. However, this figure was based on an estimate of a mere 107 (rather than 128) flight cancellations, and also failed to take into account the impact of cancellations on 7 and 8 January. Rynair has indicated that affected passengers have already been notified.
"All customers were informed via email and sms and informed about the different options: rebooking to the next available flight, transfer to an alternative flight, or a full refund," the airline said in a press release.
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Passengers who have not yet been notified of their flight's cancellation, or who are unsure as to whether or not their flight has been cancelled, can check on their flight's status on Charleroi Airport's official website.
It should be noted that only the 15 Ryanair planes stationed at Charleroi Airport and piloted by staff based in Belgium will remain grounded. Flights operated by foreign personnel will run as scheduled.
Disruptions are not expected at Brussels' main airport in Zaventem, following Ryanair's decision to withdraw its stationed aircraft there earlier this year.
