Brussels Airlines strike, 80% of flights to be cancelled

Between 70 and 80 percent of Brussels Airlines flights scheduled for January 13 will be canceled, a spokesman for the Belgian airline said, due to a surprise strike by pilots, joined by cabin crew, AFP reported.
"We regret that pilots' unions are calling for an indiscriminate strike. We urge them to join us to continue discussions and prevent preventable damage to Brussels Airlines," a spokeswoman said.
"We apologize to all affected passengers," she added, declining to comment on the staff's requests.
The three pilots' unions have called a 24-hour strike since January 13 to demand that non-wage benefits be indexed to inflation.
Another union called on cabin crew to join the pilots' strike, demanding "an increase in wages" and a better distribution of working hours, according to a press release.
Brussels Airlines, which is part of the Lufthansa group, has around 40 aircraft serving 85 destinations.
In June 2022, the company was already rocked by a major strike by its pilots, flight attendants and flight attendants. /BGNES