Wildcat strikes as Sabena goes bust

One of Europe’s oldest airlines is hours from going bust.

Passengers trying to get back to Ireland were amongst thousands trapped in scenes of chaos at Brussels Airport as Sabena heads for bankruptcy.

The Belgian national carrier has cancelled flights after much of its staff walked off the job.

The disruption came hours before the board met to decide whether to file for bankruptcy.

Employees in catering, cleaning, luggage and check-in started the wildcat actions as rumours swirled that the company was heading toward its end, with little hope that more than a fraction of the 12,000-strong staff could keep their jobs.

In chaotic scenes at the airport, where hundreds of Sabena staff protested, the airline was forced to cancel almost all flights in the afternoon.

The Sabena board issued a temporary news blackout, another indication the company is conducting vital meetings.

The government has been busy plotting the future of a viable Belgian-based carrier beyond the end of Sabena and has sent extra police to the airport.

The unions met with the government, pleading for another cash injection to at least have a social safety net in place in case the company is declared insolvent and staff are fired.

Bankruptcy could open the way for new investors to come in and build a slimmed-down version of the airline, centred primarily on European flights.

While Sabena suffers, Eurocrats used to a champagne service are scrambling to get on to Ryanair flights out of Charleroi.