Luchtvrachtsector pulls alarm bell: It can not be that air traffic lamb is because a few people are sick

Air Cargo Belgium pulls today to sound the alarm due to the ongoing nuisance in the provision of services of air traffic controller skeyes. The uncertainty has not only economic consequences, on the longer term, the employment and development of the airport are in danger, warns the sector association of the air cargo at Brussels Airport.

The last nights, there was again affected because too much air traffic controllers are sick to the provision of services to take care of. There were Monday-night no flights from midnight to midnight Tuesday to 6 hours, and last night was a part of the Belgian airspace 3 hours ended.

Read also Airspace partially closed tonight due to sick air traffic controllers No progress

That uncertainty is all since February. There is no progress in the case, despite the appointment of two social mediators, denounces ACB. "Last night were 37 cargo flights cancelled, good for about 1,200 tonnes of material transported", says Geert Keirens, director of Air Cargo Belgium. Twelve interruptions resulted in a decrease of the flown cargo volume with 12 percent.

"The economic impact of the suspended service are so right feel. This uncertainty, the employment and the development of the airport in jeopardy, not only in the short term but also long term", says Keirens. It think ACB to the e-commerce, the pharmaceutical sector or transport of perishable goods. "This type of transport requires a reliable mobility." It warns the dome that luchtvrachtverladers very quickly alternatives can find.

"It can't be that air traffic lamb is because a few people are sick", decision Keirens. He asks for a strong political signal, in the first place to the conflict in the skeyes to solve. “I think that minister of Work Peeters there is some pressure on them.” ACB also refers to cases as well as the routes and noise standards, or the social climate at the airport.

air traffic controllers Defence stand-by

Flemish minister for Mobility Ben Weyts (N-VA) proposes to air traffic controllers of Defence stand-by to keep in jumping for air traffic controllers at Skeyes who are sick. “We can get our airports, our economy and our holidaymakers not to let hostage by a supposedly sick air traffic controllers,” says the minister.

“Everyone has the right to social protest, but that's what you do in all openness, and through the existing procedures. You are going to not secretly sticks in the wheels protrude through your falsely to report sick,” says Weyts.

As the social mediators't find a solution, would Defence according to Weyts a number of air traffic controllers on standby can keep up with that can jump in. “The federal government should be Defense, although not committed to a strike to break, but here it goes, so to speak, to sick air traffic controllers, and in that case, can soldiers perfect be used to replace,” believes the minister.

“Flanders wholeheartedly behind the cry of Air Cargo Belgium. The actions of the air traffic controllers to take all Flemish airports, what economic impact has on the short and the long term. Immediately also comes the holiday of thousands of families affected,” concludes Weyts.