In short: we currently know of no announced strike day in Belgium likely to disrupt flights. On national strike days Brussels Airport often asks airlines to cancel many or all departures, and Charleroi has had no passenger flights at all. These are usually extraordinary circumstances – no compensation – but a refund or re-routing and care are always owed. Last checked: 10 November 2026.
Strikes in Belgium
As of 10 November 2026 we know of no announced Belgian strike day that is likely to disrupt flights. Belgian unions usually announce national action days several weeks ahead, and the airport confirms its plans a few days before.
Recent strikes
- Friday, 9 October 2026 – Brussels Airport: national union day of action (ABVV/FGTB, ACV/CSC). About 140 flights were cancelled at Brussels Airport because the ground handler Alyzia was short of staff. A further public-sector strike on 12 October was not expected to affect air traffic. (VRT NWS (8 Oct 2026))
Why national strikes ground flights
Belgium’s three main union confederations – the socialist ABVV/FGTB, the Christian ACV/CSC and the liberal ACLVB/CGSLB – have been protesting since 2025 against the federal government’s austerity and pension reforms. Their tools are national strikes and national demonstrations, often combined with sector strikes such as rail or the public sector.
An airport cannot run without security screeners, ground handlers, baggage staff and other service providers. When enough of them join a national action, Brussels Airport tells airlines in advance how many flights it can handle – sometimes none of the departures – and airlines cancel the rest. On 9 October 2026, for example, about 140 flights were cancelled because the ground handler Alyzia was short of staff.
Charleroi (Brussels South), the main low-cost airport, has been hit even harder: on the national action day of 12 May 2026 it had no passenger flights, and several flights were diverted to Maastricht.
Not every union action affects flights. Belgian strikes limited to the public sector or to the railways mostly make it harder to reach the airport rather than cancelling flights – Brussels Airport said the public-sector strike of 12 October 2026 was not expected to affect air traffic directly.
Strike days in 2026 so far
| Date | Action | Effect on flights |
|---|---|---|
| 12 March 2026 | National general strike | Brussels Airport cancelled all departing passenger flights (CAPA) |
| 12 May 2026 | National strike and demonstration | About half of Brussels Airport flights cancelled; no passenger flights at Charleroi (The Brussels Times) |
| 9 October 2026 | National day of action | About 140 flights cancelled at Brussels Airport (Travel Extra) |
| 12 October 2026 | Public-sector strike | Not expected to affect air traffic directly; airport access by public transport disrupted (VRT) |
Euronews counted the May 2026 action as at least the eighth union strike to affect Brussels Airport since the start of 2025. Further action days are possible as long as the dispute over the reforms continues; we add them here as soon as they are announced.
How strikes are announced – and where to check
- Unions announce national action days, usually weeks in advance, together with the sectors involved.
- Brussels Airport and Charleroi publish their expected operations a few days before – for example whether departures will be cancelled – once they know how many service-provider staff will work.
- Airlines then cancel flights and contact passengers. Some offer free rebooking for the strike day.
- Getting to the airport: national strikes often include the railways (SNCB/NMBS) and regional buses and trams, so plan another way to reach the airport even if your flight operates.
Belgium has no rule that guarantees a minimum level of flights during strikes, unlike Italy or Spain, so the effect on flights depends on how many staff join on the day.
Your rights during a Belgian strike
Flights 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.
| Who is on strike | Compensation | Care and refund or re-routing |
|---|---|---|
| National strike / action day | Usually not due – extraordinary circumstance | Always owed |
| Airport security or ground-handling staff | Usually not due | Always owed |
| Air traffic controllers | Usually not due | Always owed |
| The airline’s own pilots or cabin crew | Usually due: €250 / €400 / €600 (UK261: £220 / £350 / £520) | Always owed |
Regulation 261/2004 accepts that strikes can be extraordinary circumstances, but the Court of Justice of the EU has held that a strike by the airline’s own staff is not (C-28/20, Airhelp v SAS, 2021). When the airport asks airlines to cut flights because of a national strike, the airline will normally be able to rely on extraordinary circumstances – but it still has to show that the strike caused your particular cancellation. See strikes and extraordinary circumstances.
If your flight is cancelled you can choose a refund or re-routing, and the airline must provide meals, refreshments and, if needed, a hotel. If your flight is diverted from Charleroi or Brussels to another airport, the airline must pay for your transfer to the original airport or a nearby destination agreed with you.
Remember that the 14-day rule also applies: if the airline cancelled your flight at least two weeks before departure, compensation is not due whatever the reason.
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Strike days at Belgium’s airports since 2024
EUROCONTROL attributes every arrival flow restriction to a cause. These are the days on which restrictions at Belgium’s airports were put down to industrial action, from January 2024 to 30 September 2026 – 1 in 2024, 2 in 2026.
| Date | ATC strike delay (min) | Other strike delay (min) | Airports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 June 2026 | 832 | – | CRL, LGG |
| 1 June 2026 | 1,006 | – | CRL |
| 1 February 2024 | – | 148 | BRU |
Only restrictions on arriving flights at the airports themselves are counted; strikes by air traffic controllers elsewhere (for example in France, affecting overflights) and by airline staff do not appear here. A strike by air traffic controllers or airport staff is usually an extraordinary circumstance; a strike by the airline’s own staff is not. Source: EUROCONTROL. Check a specific day: delay cause checker.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Brussels Airport cancel flights on a national strike day?
On national action days, staff at service providers the airport depends on – such as security and ground handling – join the strike. Without enough staff, the airport cannot handle its normal schedule safely, so it asks airlines to cancel part or all of their departures in advance.
Do I get compensation if my flight from Brussels is cancelled because of a national strike?
Usually not. A national strike, or a strike by airport security or handling staff, is outside the airline’s control and normally counts as an extraordinary circumstance. You are still entitled to a refund or re-routing, and to care while you wait.
What about Charleroi?
Brussels South Charleroi Airport, used mainly by low-cost airlines, has on several national strike days had no passenger flights at all, with some flights diverted to other airports. If your flight is diverted, the airline should get you to your original destination or pay for the transfer.
What if Brussels Airlines’ own crew go on strike?
Then compensation is usually due, because a strike by the airline’s own staff is not an extraordinary circumstance (CJEU, C-28/20).
Strike dates are taken from union announcements, airport notices and press reports; each entry lists its sources. Always check with your airline and airport before travelling. Last checked: 10 November 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Sources
- National Day of Action and public sector strike to cause disruption on 9 and 12 October (8 October 2026) – VRT NWS
- Brussels Airport sees 140 flights grounded due to national strike (9 October 2026) – Travel Extra
- National strike latest updates as Belgian trade unions take to the streets (12 May 2026) – The Brussels Times
- Brussels Airport warns a “large number” of flights will be cancelled next month amid strikes (29 April 2026) – Euronews
- Brussels Airport cancels all departing services on 12 March 2026 due to strike action – CAPA – Centre for Aviation
- Judgment C-28/20 Airhelp v SAS (23 March 2021) – Court of Justice of the EU
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – full text – EUR-Lex
We check every rule against the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us – see our editorial policy.