Brussels Airport has issued a warning that a significant number of flights will be cancelled on 12 May, as Belgium braces for a nationwide strike called by the country's three major trade unions. The industrial action, announced by the Christian ACV, the socialist ABVV, and the liberal ACLVB, centres on a dispute over the mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots.
In a statement posted on its website, the airport expressed regret for the upcoming inconvenience and confirmed that the strike would reduce staffing at several service providers, severely disrupting operations. “Unfortunately, a large number of departing flights will have to be cancelled. This can also impact certain arriving flights,” the airport said. Passengers affected will be contacted and offered alternative options. According to The Brussels Times, as many as half of all flights scheduled for that day may be grounded.
Pension age dispute fuels union anger
The root of the conflict lies in Belgian law, which requires pilots to work until the retirement age of 66. The unions argue this creates an “unfair situation” because, under European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) rules, pilots can only fly solo until age 60, and may continue as part of a crew until 65. After that, they are barred from flying altogether. “That combination is downright absurd: pilots are obliged to work, but at the same time are obliged to stop their core activity at 65. The legislation is clearly flawed here,” the unions said in a joint statement.
Jan Jambon, Belgium's minister of pensions, has suggested raising the retirement age further to 67, arguing that pilots should be assessed on individual medical and cognitive abilities rather than a fixed age limit. “That is why I will examine how and to what extent the federal government can provide support to conduct this debate within the European Union, with a view to a possible increase to 67 years of age. Because it is important to emphasise that this is a European power,” Jambon said. He also noted that most pilots meet their career requirements by age 42 and can retire early, making the current rules rarely applied in practice.
The unions, while expressing a desire to avoid strike action, said they have reached a “particularly high” point of grievance. The walkout is set to affect not only air travel but also public transport, including Belgium's national railway operator SNCB and the De Lijn bus and tram services to and from the airport.
This disruption comes at a time when European aviation is already under pressure from rising operational costs. For more on the broader challenges facing the sector, see our report on the Jet Fuel Crisis Threatens Europe's Regional Airports with Existential Collapse.
Brussels Airport said it is working with all relevant partners to ensure as many flights as possible can depart on 12 May, but urged passengers to check with their airlines for updates. The strike underscores ongoing tensions across Europe over pension reforms and working conditions, as governments grapple with ageing populations and fiscal constraints.
