Belgian air traffic controllers significantly disrupted flights at Brussels airport yesterday when they implemented a wildcat strike action at the height of the evening ‘rush hour’ Tuesday night.  The action followed their union’s rejection of a compromise aimed at solving a conflict over a pension reform.

The strike action comes at a time when traffic was already reduced at the airport in the wake of the March 22 attacks. The Belgocontrol management said members of the guild of air traffic controllers had reported sick and declared they were unfit to work. It said it was looking for immediate solutions.

“This action by air traffic controllers is a kick in the teeth for all the airline and airport staff who have worked so hard to reconnect Brussels to the world after the appalling terrorist attack just three weeks ago,” said Tony Tyler, International Air Transport Association director general and CEO.

“It is the height of irresponsibility to cut a vital service and doing so without warning can only be seen as malicious. If we cannot count on simple human decency from such highly-compensated professionals then it’s time for governments to find ways to guarantee the availability of air traffic control services.”