Ryanair cancels all flights to and from Brussels and Charleroi airports 22-24 April due to cabin crew strike

Ryanair has cancelled all flights to and from Charleroi and Brussels on 22, 23 and 24 April due to planned trade union actions, the company confirmed in a press release on Wednesday evening, reports RTBF.

“All affected customers will be notified by email and informed of the options available to them, such as flight change or refund,” the airline said. In an email to its employees, the management said it was "disappointed not to have received a response to its proposals", following the announcement of the strike.

Ryanair cabin crew members working at Brussels National Airport in Zaventem and Brussels South Charleroi Airport will carry out a three-day strike from 22 to 24 April, the French-speaking Christian unions CNE and Flemish ACV Puls announced last Friday.

The action was motivated by negotiations around a new collective agreement on wages and bonuses for cabin crew, which have not yet resulted in an agreement. A final attempt at mediation between staff representatives and the management of the Irish low-cost company last Friday did not lead to the hoped-for solutions.

Passengers entitled to refund or compensation

Secretary of state for consumer protection Eva De Bleeker (Open Vld) reminded Ryanair customers on Wednesday of their rights in the event of a strike.

She said that ticket holders for a cancelled Ryanair flight were entitled to an alternative flight or to a refund and compensation. According to the minister, consumers for whom no alternative flight was planned were entitled to a refund and compensation of €250, €400 or €600, depending on the distance of the flight.

For De Bleeker, in the context of this strike, the airline Ryanair could not invoke force majeure to avoid its obligations.

Passengers who arrived at their final destination with a delay of more than three hours would also be entitled to compensation, she said.

In the longer term, De Bleeker wants to make it easier for consumers to claim compensation for cancelled flights. A one-stop shop is planned for consumers, which should be active in early 2023.