Brussels Airlines to Cancel Around 700 Flights Over Summer Holiday

Brussels Airlines to Cancel Around 700 Flights Over Summer Holiday
The logo of Brussels Airlines at the entrance of the company headquarters, near the International airport of Zaventem, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Diegem, Belgium on May 12, 2020. (Yves Herman/Reuters)
Reuters
7/5/2022
Updated:
7/5/2022

BRUSSELS—The Belgian subsidiary of Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, is canceling close to 700 flights over the summer holiday period, around 6 percent of those scheduled, to reduce workload and avoid strikes, the airline said on Monday.

“We are meeting the demands of the unions today and we hope it can rule out further actions (this summer),” Brussels Airlines spokesperson Maaike Andries emailed. “For long-term solutions, we will organize a meeting with the unions on August 23.”

The cancellations would lead to 10.2 million euros ($10.66 million) in lost revenue, the airline added.

Pilot and cabin crew unions of Brussels Airlines held a three-day strike last month, after complaining that the pressure of work was too high and that the company had been aware of the situation for around a year but failed to alleviate it.

Across Europe strikes and staff shortages are forcing airlines to cancel thousands of flights, causing hours-long queues at major airports, dashing hopes of a first summer holiday for many after COVID lockdowns.

($1 = 0.9565 euros)