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European airports forced to cancel all flights as thousands of passengers hit

As many as 48,000 airline passengers are set to be affected by a nationwide strike on Tuesday

[Ryanair aircraft are pictured at Stansted airport]

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Hundreds of flights have been cancelled due to a nationwide strike against government austerity measures(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Tens of thousands of passengers are facing travel chaos as a nationwide strike brings Belgium to a standstill.

Two of the country's main airports have confirmed mass cancellations for Tuesday, October 14, with flights grounded and severe delays expected.

At Brussels Airport - the country's biggest - all departing flights have been cancelled, while around half of all arrivals have been scrapped. Brussels Charleroi Airport, which is a key base for budget airlines like Ryanair, has also confirmed that all flights - both arrivals and departures - will be cancelled on Tuesday.

[Charleroi Airport]

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Passengers will be contacted by their airline for a rebooking or refund, Charleroi Airport said(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)

The strike was called by Belgiums trade unions in protest against government austerity measures. Metro, bus and tram services across the country are also expected to be severely disrupted.

Brussels Airport spokesperson Jeffrey Franssens said on Monday that 115 of 238 scheduled arrivals have been cancelled. Two weeks ago, the airport announced that all 234 departures had been scrapped due to a planned walkout by "a large number" of G4S security staff.

The airport warned of "major disruptions" on the day of the strike, adding that both Monday and Wednesday would be particularly busy as passengers try to rearrange travel plans.

Charleroi Airport said on its website: "Passengers affected scheduled to fly via Charleroi on 14 October will be contacted in the coming days by their airline for a rebooking or refund."

A total 48,000 passengers will be affected by the strike - 33,000 of whom were scheduled to depart and 15,000 of whom were scheduled to arrive - The Brussels Times reports.

Union representatives said they expect a massive turnout at their demonstration in Brussels. "We want to send a strong signal," said ACLVB spokesperson Kurt Van Hissenhoven.

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