Brussels Airlines scrapped all its flights for next Wednesday because a national strike was likely to severely hit operations at its hub, Brussels Airport. The airline, owned by Lufthansa, was to have run 222 flights. Unions are calling for wage increases, an improved work-life balance and better pensions and their widespread action is expected to hit the port of Antwerp, air traffic control, railway services and public transport. PM Charles Michel has urged union leaders to return to talks with the government and employer representatives. Leisure airline TUI fly has already switched 36 flights to and from Brussels to other airports in France and the Netherlands. The switch was set to affect some 5,000 passengers. <br/>
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An Air NZ flight to Shanghai turned back several hours into its journey on Sunday after discovering it did not have permission to land in China, the airline said. Flight NZ289 carrying about 270 passengers left Auckland shortly before midnight on Saturday only to return about 10 a.m. on Sunday (2100 GMT Saturday). It turned around several hours into the flight. “A technicality meant the particular aircraft operating this service did not have Chinese regulatory authority to land in China,” the airline said. China’s foreign ministry did not make any immediate comment when contacted by Reuters. Air NZ apologised to passengers and said a special service would fly them to Shanghai at 11 p.m. on Sunday. “We know customers will be deeply disappointed and frustrated by this situation and we are very sorry for the disruption to their travel plans,” Air New Zealand said.<br/>
A German union representing cabin crew staff at Lufthansa on Friday said negotiations over a potential profit-sharing deal with the airline had broken down. Lufthansa’s management appeared to be more interested in demonstrating a hard line in negotiations than in reaching an agreement with cabin crew, German union UFO said.<br/>