In short: Flying to Belgium from elsewhere in Europe, a delay of 3 hours or more is worth €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes (EU261, any airline); from the UK £220 under UK261. On the way home, EU261 covers every flight leaving Belgium.
Your rights each way
| Direction | Rules | Covered airlines | 3h+ delay / late cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Another EU/EEA country or Switzerland → Belgium | EU261 | any airline | €250–€400 |
| Belgium → another EU/EEA country or Switzerland | EU261 | any airline | €250–€400 |
| UK → Belgium | UK261 | any airline | £220 |
| Belgium → UK | EU261 | any airline | €250 |
| Outside Europe → Belgium | EU261 | only an EU airline | by distance, up to €600 |
Amounts are per passenger and depend on the great-circle distance between your airports – the ranges cover the busiest routes. Whatever the cause, from 2 hours’ delay the airline must provide meals and drinks, and a hotel if you are stuck overnight – where EU261 or UK261 applies. Living in Belgium or flying from there? See how to claim in Belgium.
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Airports in Belgium
| Airport | Passengers 2024* | ATFM delay per arrival 2025 | Main cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels Zaventem (BRU) | 16,743,611 | 0.77 min | aerodrome capacity (60%) |
| Brussels Charleroi (CRL) | 9,166,664 | 0.03 min | other (80%) |
| Oostende (OST) | 259,060 | 0.00 min | – |
| Grâce-Hollogne (LGG) | 108,118 | 0.09 min | other (100%) |
| Antwerp (ANR) | 98,065 | 0.00 min | – |
* Passengers on routes reported to Eurostat (both directions).
Routes from the UK to Belgium
From the UK: Belgium’s main airports are Brussels (Zaventem) and Brussels South Charleroi; in the CAA’s 2025 data UK flights also served Ostend, Liège and Antwerp. Flights departing from Belgium are covered by EU261 whatever the airline; flights from the UK to Belgium by UK261; flights from Belgium to the UK by EU261.
Punctuality of the busiest routes in 2025, from UK Civil Aviation Authority data (departures from UK airports).
| Route | Flights | On time | 3h+ late | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow – Brussels | 4,991 | 69.5% | 0.17% | 3.29% |
| Manchester – Brussels | 1,905 | 75.7% | 0.62% | 1.35% |
| Manchester – Brussels | 1,241 | 62.2% | 0.16% | 1.97% |
Busiest European routes
- Madrid Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas – Brussels Zaventem1,014,125 pax
- Barcelona El Prat – Brussels Zaventem883,847 pax
- Rome Fiumicino – Brussels Zaventem633,983 pax
- Málaga – Brussels Zaventem620,931 pax
- Alicante – Brussels Zaventem544,587 pax
- Brussels Zaventem – Geneva526,592 pax
- Vienna – Brussels Zaventem518,598 pax
- Lisbon – Brussels Zaventem516,642 pax
- Frankfurt – Brussels Zaventem513,124 pax
- Dublin – Brussels Zaventem469,861 pax
- Istanbul – Brussels Zaventem460,111 pax
- Munich – Brussels Zaventem450,633 pax
- Copenhagen – Brussels Zaventem429,515 pax
- Athens – Brussels Zaventem407,553 pax
- Berlin – Brussels Zaventem402,331 pax
- Brussels Zaventem – Milan Linate377,320 pax
- Antalya – Brussels Zaventem363,338 pax
- Bucharest Henri Coandă – Brussels Charleroi344,942 pax
- Brussels Zaventem – Tenerife South339,936 pax
- Zurich – Brussels Zaventem333,309 pax
Why flights to Belgium are delayed
In 2025, air traffic flow restrictions held back arrivals at Belgium’s airports by 0.49 minutes per flight on average (EUROCONTROL, 5 airports). The worst month was Aug. Air traffic control strikes affected arrivals on 2 days since 2024, most recently 2 June 2026.
Causes of air traffic flow delay (2025)
Average ATFM delay per arrival by month (min)
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Weather and air traffic control restrictions are usually extraordinary circumstances – but the airline must show they caused your delay. Check what happened on your travel day.
Strikes
No strikes affecting flights in Belgium are announced in our calendar at the moment.
Belgian unions usually announce national action days several weeks ahead. Brussels Airport and Charleroi then publish their expected operations a few days before – on several strike days in 2025–2026 Brussels Airport asked airlines to cancel many or all departures. Belgium has no rule guaranteeing a minimum level of flights during strikes.
Strikes in Belgium · Strike calendar
Where to complain
- The airline first – in writing, with your booking reference. Use our complaint letter generator.
- National enforcement body: FPS Mobility and Transport – Directorate-General Air Transport, Passenger Rights – Online complaint form in Dutch, French and English..
- Dispute resolution: The Consumer Mediation Service (Consumentenombudsdienst / Service de Médiation pour le Consommateur) is free and fully non-binding, and only mediates with companies established in Belgium, such as Belgian airlines. You must show that you tried to settle with the company first.
- From the UK: if you flew from a UK airport or with a UK airline, you can also use UK ADR, the CAA or the small claims court.
Tips for flying to Belgium
- On a national strike day, check Brussels Airport’s and Charleroi’s own announcements a few days before – they decide whether departures will run once they know how many service-provider staff will work.
- A national action day is usually an extraordinary circumstance for the airline, so no compensation – but you can still choose a refund or re-routing and are owed meals and, if needed, a hotel.
- In EUROCONTROL’s 2025 data most arrival flow-control delay at Brussels was attributed to airport capacity, peaking in August.
Frequently asked questions
Am I covered on a flight to Belgium?
From anywhere in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, yes: EU261 covers every departing flight, whatever the airline – €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes if you arrive 3 hours or more late. From the UK, UK261 covers every departing flight (£220). From outside Europe you are covered only on an EU airline.
Am I covered on the flight home from Belgium?
Belgium applies EU261 to every departing flight, so you are covered with any airline (€250–€400 on typical routes).
Who enforces passenger rights in Belgium?
FPS Mobility and Transport – Directorate-General Air Transport, Passenger Rights – Online complaint form in Dutch, French and English.. Complain to the airline first; if it rejects you or does not answer, you can turn to this body. All national enforcement bodies.
Are strikes covered?
It depends whose staff are on strike. Air traffic control or airport strikes are usually extraordinary circumstances; strikes by the airline’s own staff are not (CJEU C-28/20). See strikes and compensation.
Data: Eurostat 2024, EUROCONTROL, UK Civil Aviation Authority 2025. Information only, not legal advice.
Sources
- National enforcement bodies under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (updated 13 October 2026) – European Commission
- Consumer Mediation Service – FAQ – Consumentenombudsdienst
- National Day of Action and public sector strike to cause disruption on 9 and 12 October (8 October 2026) – VRT NWS
- Brussels Airport cancels all departing services on 12 March 2026 due to strike action – CAPA – Centre for Aviation
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – full text (Article 3: scope; recital 15: air traffic management decisions) – EUR-Lex
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as it applies in the UK (UK261) – Article 3, scope – legislation.gov.uk
- UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 (flights by destination from UK airports) – UK Civil Aviation Authority
- Airport arrival ATFM (flow-control) delay data, 2024–2025 – EUROCONTROL Aviation Intelligence Unit
- Air passenger transport by reporting airport (avia_par), 2024 – Eurostat
- Eurostat – air passenger transport routes between partner airports and main airports (2024) – Eurostat
- EUROCONTROL – airport arrival ATFM delays (open performance data) – EUROCONTROL
- UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 – UK Civil Aviation Authority
We check every rule against the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us – see our editorial policy.