Flights of Belgian airline Sabena were suspended on Tuesday as staff walked out over fears of impending bankruptcy.

There was chaos at Brussels' Zaventem national airport as staff abandoned check-in desks, stranding hundreds of passengers.

The only known potential investor, British entrepreneur Richard Branson's Virgin Express airline, said the last-ditch recovery plan for the 78-year-old Belgian flag carrier was unworkable.

Airport officials advised travellers not to come to Zaventem, where travellers queued in vain at deserted check-in desks for flights that would never take off.

http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe...439/index.html