"Flight companies suffered 10 million in damages due to strike at Skeyes"
The Belgian air companies have suffered a total loss of about 10 million euros already because of the frequent industrial action at Skeyes. That's according to the members of the Belgian Air Transportation Association (BATA) who had a meeting with Economy Minister Kris Peeters.
Air traffic controllers at Skeyes (the former Belgocontrol) have been calling in sick on several occasions lately, disrupting both passenger transport and cargo traffic at night. Two mediators have been appointed to solve the issue.
BATA is the umbrella organisation for passenger companies such as Brussels Airlines and TUI Fly, and freight carriers such as DHL and ASL. "This is just a rough estimation", explains Herman Carpentier of BATA. "It does not include our dented image."
Staff at Skeyes are unhappy about work pressure and the general duty roster. They compiled a list with about 25 different grievances at the end of February. Several flights had to be cancelled due to the various strikes, while others were delayed. When staff took industrial action during the night, the cargo companies at Liège were mostly hit.