Border guards plan go-slow protest at Brussels Airport on Friday

Passengers flying from Brussels Airport on Friday should arrive at the terminal early, because of a work-to-rule by border guards.

Long queues at passport control are likely, as police protest about a lack of personnel and resources.

The industrial action comes on a busy day for Brussels Airport. Some 74,000 passengers are due to take off from Zaventem on Friday for the start of the half-term holidays.

The airport recommends that anyone flying to a non-Schengen destination arrive three hours before their flight is due to take off. The work-to-rule means border guards will take extra time checking each passenger's passport.

"We have no idea how big the action will be," a Brussels Airport spokeswoman told Bel RTL. "It will be focused on passengers to non-European destinations.

"Try to arrive three hours early. Stay calm in the queue and be patient. We will do our best to inform and guide the passengers as necessary."

A police union spokesman told Het Nieuwsblad: "There should be 540 police officers, but there are only 400 of us. Our computers are old. We do not have the resources.

"Apparently, everyone has already forgotten the tragedy of 22 March 2016 - the attack in which 14 people were killed and 100 injured. Security is just as inadequate today as it was then."

According to the union, the work-to-rule will stop at 16.00 - when "the real exodus begins".