Trade union strike in Brussels, Jet cancels 4 flights

New Delhi: Jet Airways on Sunday announced cancellation of four flights to and from Brussels, as also to Newark and Toronto, on Monday following a strike called by all major trade unions in Belgium.

The premier private carrier said its Delhi-Brussels- Toronto flight (9W-230) of December eight, Mumbai-Brussels- Newark service (9W-228) of December eight, Newark-Brussels- Mumbai (9W-227) and 9W229 Toronto-Brussels-Delhi of December eight, have been cancelled.

An airline spokesperson said the planned industrial unrest in Belgium on Monday "will directly affect flight operations out of Brussels airport".

To minimise disruption, passengers were being re- accommodated on flights through Paris and Abu Dhabi.

Other options like rescheduling of flights, postponing travel dates up to ten days from the original date without any fees or refunds without cancellation were also being offered to passengers who have purchased tickets to travel to, from or via Brussels on December eight and who now wish to change their flight plans, the spokesperson said.

"Jet Airways is doing everything possible to minimise the impact of this disruption, which is beyond our control and we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused," she added.

A series of strikes have been planned in Belgium on Monday which are likely to disrupt all modes like ship movement, road, rail and air transport, with the unions protesting austerity measures announced by the country's new government.

The regional strikes would be followed by a nationwide strike on December 15, according to reports from Brussels.