"It was a drama, but we had no other choice": Skeyes air traffic controllers react to strike that paralyzed airports

Belgian skies were largely cleared Tuesday as air traffic controllers at Skeyes staged an unexpected strike, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations and stranding thousands of travelers. The action caused an estimated 10 million euros in economic damage.

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It was a drama, but we had no other choice.

The immediate catalyst for the strike was the impending launch of a new digital control center in Namen, scheduled to become operational next year. This center will remotely manage air traffic for Charleroi and Liège airports, with plans for future expansion to Flemish airports. While Skeyes management views the center as a technological advancement, controllers expressed significant concerns.

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I would be annoyed as a passenger too, but believe me: we had no other choice.

Controllers highlighted worries about the safety implications of the new digital system, particularly regarding visual oversight and real-time assessment of aircraft positions, which they feel is compromised compared to traditional tower operations. Beyond safety, underlying issues include a perceived lack of consultation, inadequate compensation plans for those who will need to commute to Namen, and dissatisfaction with working schedules.

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Everything we tried was ignored.

Controllers emphasized that the strike was a last resort, driven by years of simmering discontent and a feeling that their concerns were consistently ignored. "Everything we have tried was ignored," one controller stated. They warned that if management fails to engage constructively in the coming weeks, further industrial action cannot be ruled out, leaving the future of air travel in Belgium uncertain.

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And if the management does not listen again in the coming weeks, further actions cannot be ruled out.