Belgian trade unions are organizing three national days of action against government policy on November 24, 25, and 26. On Monday, November 24, they are calling for a rail strike.

This will be followed by strikes in all public services and the education sector the next day. Finally, on Wednesday, November 26, the unions are organizing a national strike across all industries. Public transport and aviation will thus also be affected. Here is an overview of the expected reduction in bus, tram, train, and plane services.

Fewer buses and trams

The Flemish transport company De Lijn has already warned that during the three days of strikes, fewer buses and trams will be running throughout Flanders. In any case, there will be a legally limited service, but De Lijn is also working on an alternative service. This will be available from Saturday, November 22, in the evening. Updates will follow in the days after.

Passengers are advised to plan their journeys using the route planner on the website or in the app. Journeys that are not running will not appear there.

Significant disruption in Brussels

The Brussels transport company MIVB/STIB also expects significant disruption to public transport. MIVB/STIB says it will “make every effort to ensure at least part of the service and to inform our passengers in real time about the situation on the network.”

At the same time, the transport company is encouraging passengers to seek alternative travel options for their journeys in Brussels on those days. To this end, it refers to the Floya app, which lets you combine various transport options in Brussels.

Reduced train service

The Walloon public transport company LETEC and the national railway company NMBS/SNCB have not yet issued a general press release regarding the strike days. Still, they are expected to experience significant disruption for all three days, even though they are subject to mandatory minimum service requirements. In any case, trade unions are talking about a ‘historic mobilization’ of the transport sector.

A rally is planned in front of Guillemins station in Liège on November 24, and, in general, transport will be severely affected during the three days of action, especially in the “fiery city” and the rest of the province.

As far as the NMBS/SNCB is concerned, alternative train services will be organized depending on staff availability. The adapted service will be available 24 hours in advance. Eurostar, however, is still determining the potential impact of the strikes on its international high-speed rail services. More information is expected in the coming days.

Brussels Airlines cancels almost all flights

The disruption with the most significant impact on travelers is, of course, with the airlines. On November 26, no passenger flights will depart from Brussels Airport, which is the home base of Brussels Airlines, among others.

The airline says it is tired of external conflicts between unions and the government repeatedly affecting its operations, in this case due to strikes by many staff members from the security service provider and ground handling workers at the airport.

It will be the seventh time this year that national union actions will have a significant impact on Brussels Airport and, consequently, on Brussels Airlines. The previous six days of action affected more than 100,000 passengers and led to an estimated financial burden of 14 million euros for Brussels Airlines.

And for next Wednesday, the airline has cancelled 90% of its approximately 200 flights; around 20 flights remain, mainly aircraft returning to Brussels.

“We call on trade unions and the government to find other ways to communicate with each other than through actions like this,” says the airline. “Sit down at the table and find solutions. And if you can’t find solutions, find something else to do than repeatedly paralyzing the airport, the country’s second economic engine.”

There is no news yet about the impact on other airports, notably Brussels South Charleroi Airport and the smaller regional airports in Ostend and Antwerp, although this is expected in the coming days.