Belgium Strike – Eurostar & BA disruptions

Belgium is set to see the biggest national strike for years, grounding all flights and halting public transport, including several international train links.

The strikes are thought to be in protest at the new government’s austerity policies, and are the climax of a union movement which began last month.

Schools, businesses, factories and government offices are also likely to be closed.

Eurostar said its services on the Brussels route would only be able to operate to and from Lille today.

“Due to the scale of the strike we expect no trains or other public transport to run in Belgium. Eurostar is unable to provide any alternative method of transport between Brussels and Lille and we strongly advise our passengers not to travel on that date.”

British Airways has also cancelled all flights to Brussels today, after stating that it expected “significant disruption at Brussels airport as a result of strike action by a wide range of industries across Belgium on Monday December 15”.

It added, however, that an extra flight had been added from Brussels to Heathrow last night, and that it would be using larger aircraft throughout Sunday and Tuesday to help rebook customers affected by the industrial action who still wished to travel.