Brussels Airlines returns to normal service after three-day strike

Normal operations were resumed on Sunday morning at Brussels Airlines after a three-day strike by cabin crew and pilots, says the company.

A total of 316 flights were cancelled due to the action, impacting 40,000 passengers, reports RTBF. The financial impact of the action will be known in the days or weeks to come.

During the three-day strike, 217 of the 533 scheduled flights continued to operate. The majority of the 40,000 affected passengers were able to reach their destination thanks to alternative reservations, according to the airline. Some will leave this Sunday and over the next few days, which is why flights are expected to be busy.

The strike from 23 to 25 June by pilots and cabin crew followed disagreement between management and trade unions that has been dragging on since last summer. A 24-hour strike took place in December.

With travel picking up after the coronavirus pandemic, staff say they are exhausted and are asking for a reduction in workload. Brussels Airlines says it is open to the resumption of negotiations with the unions.