Brussels airport cancels around 50 flights due to strike

 Brussels airport cancelled around 50 flights on Wednesday due to a second day of industrial action by air traffic controllers, the Belga news agency reported.

According to the German news agency, dpa, the strike comes as the airport has sought to recover from suicide bombings last month in which two attackers blew themselves up in the departure hall. Together with a third blast at a Brussels underground station, 32 people were killed.

Belgium's main international aviation hub was closed for several days, and services have yet to return to normal. The airport should have been handling around 400 flights on Wednesday, according to Belga.

The airport's website carried an advisory notice telling passengers to check the status of their flight before setting off.

Roughly 100 flights were cancelled on Tuesday due to the strike, while seven were diverted abroad, Belga reported.

The industrial action began hours after the airport settled a dispute with air traffic control representatives, reaching a compromise deal under which employees will gradually see their working age extended.

Source:WAM