Skeyes Air Traffic Control Strike Ends After Agreement
A disruptive two-day wildcat strike by air traffic controllers at Skeyes, Belgium’s national air traffic control authority, has officially ended after management and unions reached an agreement on Tuesday evening. Air traffic to and from Belgium has returned to normal as of Wednesday morning, though residual delays are expected as airlines work through a backlog of cancelled and rescheduled flights.
Background of the Dispute
The strike, which began spontaneously on the night of Monday 1 June, was rooted in a long-simmering labor dispute over Skeyes’ planned transition to a digital control center in Namur. The facility, expected to become operational in 2027, will replace traditional physical control towers at Liège and Charleroi airports with remote digital operations managed from a central location.
Air traffic controllers raised multiple grievances, including safety concerns about the new digital system, the significant social impact of relocating to Namur, and insufficient transition compensation from management. According to BRUZZ, a preliminary agreement reached with one union secretary on Monday was rejected by the broader workforce, reflecting deep grassroots frustration.
Timeline of Events
The industrial action unfolded in two waves. The first began in the early hours of Tuesday when employees at control towers in Liège and Charleroi stopped work between 02:30 and 07:30. Brussels Airport resumed operations at 07:00, with Liège, Charleroi, and Ostend following around 09:30.
However, a second, larger spontaneous strike was announced for the afternoon, suspending all flights to and from Belgium from 14:00 to 19:00. The walkout caught airlines and passengers off guard, with Brussels Airport advising travelers not to come to the airport during the affected window.
Impact on Passengers and Airlines
The disruption was severe. At Brussels Airport alone, approximately 140 flights were cancelled between 14:00 and 19:00, with another 40 departing and 40 arriving flights scheduled after 21:00 facing significant delays. Charleroi Airport saw 39 flights cancelled, while operations at Ostend, Antwerp, and Liège were also disrupted.
Ryanair was particularly hard hit. The budget carrier cancelled 100 flights to and from Brussels Airport and Charleroi, affecting an estimated 20,000 passengers. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary criticized the unannounced nature of the strike, telling Transport Online that airlines should have been notified in advance to adjust schedules and minimize disruption.
Brussels Airlines also expressed frustration. Spokesperson Nico Cardone stated the airline deeply regretted the inconvenience caused by the unannounced action, noting that the company communicated proactively via SMS, its app, and its website.
The Agreement and Next Steps
Skeyes management and unions reached a deal around 19:00 on Tuesday evening, with the strike officially ending at 21:00. Skeyes spokesperson Kurt Verwilligen confirmed that the social partners will reconvene to continue negotiations on the Digital Towers Wallonia dossier, with the aim of reaching a broadly supported agreement.
Skeyes apologized to affected travelers and stated it was doing everything possible to normalize services. According to The Brussels Times, the company emphasized that the resumption of air traffic would proceed gradually and in full safety.
Broader Implications
The wildcat nature of the strike — not officially called by unions — signals deep-seated mistrust between air traffic controllers and Skeyes management. The fact that 190 controllers sent an unanswered letter to Mobility Minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) in May 2026 further highlights communication failures at multiple levels.
While the immediate crisis has been resolved, the underlying dispute over the digital transition remains unresolved. Until a lasting agreement is reached on working conditions, compensation, and safety guarantees for the Namur control center, the risk of further spontaneous walkouts persists — creating ongoing uncertainty for airlines, airports, and passengers as Belgium enters the peak summer travel season.
What to Watch For
Further negotiations between Skeyes and the unions are expected in the coming weeks. Key questions remain unanswered: Will Minister Crucke respond to the controllers’ concerns? Can management and labor find common ground on the digital transition? And will the government play a more active role in mediating the dispute? The answers will determine whether Belgium’s air traffic can avoid further disruption during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.