Brussels Airport strike: National European airport cancels all flights and Eurostar warns of disruption

The action was called in response to Prime Minister Bart De Wever's attempts to shrink Belgium's debt by changing labour laws and reforming unemployment benefits and pensions. Teachers, medical staff and rubbish collectors will all be joining the rolling industrial action which is set to end in a general strike on Wednesday.

Eurostar is among organisations warning of potential disruption, while the two main airports have advised customers that all departure flights will be cancelled on Wednesday. On Wednesday a full general strike covers all categories including the two main airports, Bruxelles-Zaventem and Charleroi.

Bruxelles-Zaventem airport has said it expects "major disruptions" to operations on Wednesday with all departure flights cancelled and some cancellations also possible for incoming flights. The airport said that staff from their security and handling service provider were expected to be participating in the national industrial action.

Charleroi airport has similarly said it will not be able to operate either scheduled departures or arrivals on the day of the general strike - as it also warned passengers of potential disruption on public service networks throughout the strike period.

The City of Brussels has warned of "disrupted services" on its public transport links throughout the three days of action while transport company, De Lijn, which operates in Flanders has advised there will be "fewer bus and tram services".

Defending the action, general workers union FGTB said a demonstration in Brussels two weeks ago had been met with "total silence" from the government. Fair pensions is a core issue cited by the unions while other demands include a fair wealth tax, a tax on digital activities for tech giants and the transparent screening of subsidies to companies.