Business News

Strike at Brussels airport halts flights

Apr 13, 2007, 13:31 GMT

Brussels - A strike by fire and safety personnel completely halted flights at Brussels' Zaventem airport on Friday.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled. Brussels Airlines alone had to cancel more than 200 flights scheduled to carry 15,000 passengers.

A spokesman for the airport said it would have been irresponsible for flights to land or takeoff without the presence of the fire services.

Most European flights were rerouted to other Belgian airports, Flemish radio station VRT reported. International flights landed in Amsterdam or Paris. Buses bought the passengers to the Belgian capital.

The strikers are protesting work conditions and promotion opportunities.