"The movement that started last night is simply not acceptable": Minister Neven Reacts to Skeyes Strike

Walloon Minister Cécile Neven strongly criticized a spontaneous strike by Skeyes air traffic controllers that began overnight Monday to Tuesday, deeming the action "simply not acceptable." The strike has significantly disrupted air travel, causing 30 passenger flight cancellations at Charleroi Airport and impacting approximately 40 cargo flights at Liege Airport. The action is expected to resume in the afternoon.

“

I fully support social dialogue. But the movement that started last night is simply not acceptable.

"Thousands of passengers were taken hostage at Charleroi and other airports in the country without notice," Neven stated, adding that businesses relying on airport operations were also penalized. She expressed concern over the economic consequences and the damage to the reliability of the region's airport infrastructure. The minister urged for a sense of responsibility to allow dialogue and minimize further disruptions.

Neven highlighted the particular sensitivity of the situation given the current international context of geopolitical tensions, which already complicate air and logistics operations. She noted that the workers' protest is directed against the Namur digital tower project, which she stated has been known for a long time and is proceeding according to schedule and agreements. Skeyes, she added, had not informed Wallonia of any difficulties regarding the project's implementation, which aims to enhance airport operational safety and performance.

“

Without notice, thousands of passengers were taken hostage at Charleroi and other airports in the country. Businesses that depend daily on our airports for their activities were also penalized.

The minister is preparing a letter to the federal Minister of Mobility, Jean-Luc Crucke, to detail the concrete consequences of the strike on Walloon airports. Neven reiterated her call for a swift consideration of mechanisms that guarantee service continuity, preventing passengers and businesses from becoming "the first victims" again. She concluded by emphasizing that Walloon airports are strategic economic assets requiring a stable, efficient, and predictable operational framework.

“

We are preparing a letter to the federal Minister of Mobility, Jean-Luc Crucke, to inform him of the very concrete consequences of this strike on the Walloon airports.