Brussels Airport Cancels Over 100 Incoming Flights Amid Nationwide Strike

Brussels Airport Cancels Over 100 Incoming Flights Amid Nationwide Strike

We are witnessing significant disruptions in European air travel this week as Brussels Airport confirms the cancellation of 110 incoming flights scheduled for Wednesday, November 26, 2025. This announcement marks a substantial escalation in the operational impact of the ongoing nationwide strike in Belgium. The cancellations are in addition to the previously announced suspension of all departing passenger flights, effectively bringing the country’s main international hub to a near-standstill.

The decision to scale back arrival operations follows a comprehensive assessment of available staffing levels. With a general strike organized by major trade unions gripping the nation, the airport authority determined that it could not guarantee the necessary security and ground-handling services required to safely process the full volume of scheduled traffic. Consequently, travelers attempting to enter Belgium through its capital now face uncertainty comparable to those trying to leave.

This logistical bottleneck is not an isolated incident but the culmination of a three-day industrial action protesting government austerity measures. As the strike reaches its peak on Wednesday, the repercussions are being felt across the entire Belgian transport network, affecting not just aviation but rail and bus services as well. We advise all passengers to exercise extreme caution and verify their travel arrangements immediately.

Operational Impact: Arrivals and Departures

The scale of the disruption at Brussels Airport is extensive. According to confirmed reports, the airport originally scheduled 203 incoming flights for Wednesday. The cancellation of 110 of these flights means that less than half of the expected arrivals will operate. While 93 incoming flights remain on the schedule, airport officials have warned that these operations are subject to potential delays or last-minute changes depending on real-time staffing availability.

The situation for departing passengers is even more severe. Prior to the announcement regarding arrivals, the airport had already taken the decision to cancel all departing passenger flights for the same day. This affects approximately 206 scheduled departures. The rationale behind this total grounding of outbound traffic lies in the security screening process; without sufficient security personnel participating in the strike, the airport cannot legally or safely screen passengers and their luggage.

The combined effect of these cancellations results in a day where the airport will see zero passenger departures and a drastically reduced capacity for arrivals. This operational freeze is driven by a shortage of essential staff across various critical sectors, including security agents and baggage handlers, who are adhering to the strike call.

“Brussels Airport will cancel 110 of the 203 incoming flights on Wednesday, in addition to the departing flights already scrapped due to a nationwide strike.”

The Context: A Nationwide General Strike

To understand the severity of these flight cancellations, we must look at the broader context of the industrial action. The disruptions on November 26 are part of a general nationwide strike organized by Belgium’s primary trade unions, including ACV-CSC, FGTB-ABVV, and CGSLB-ACLVB. This specific date was designated as the focal point of a three-day protest, expected to generate the most severe impact across all economic sectors.

The unions are mobilizing against a suite of austerity measures proposed by the federal government, led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever. The contention centers on reforms to labor laws, changes to the unemployment benefit structure, and adjustments to the pension system. The government argues that these budget cuts and reforms are essential to reduce the national deficit and ensure compliance with European Union fiscal regulations. Conversely, the unions maintain that these measures unfairly target the workforce and erode social protections.

This political standoff has spilled over into critical infrastructure, with the aviation sector becoming a highly visible casualty. The inability to staff security checkpoints and ground operations at the airport is a direct result of the high participation rates in the strike action among these specific labor groups.

Broader Travel Implications and Advice

The impact of the strike extends beyond Brussels Airport (BRU). Travelers should be aware that Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA), a major hub for low-cost carriers, has announced a complete closure for Wednesday. Charleroi will see no departures and no arrivals, signaling a total shutdown of commercial aviation at Belgium’s second-largest airport. This leaves travelers with very few aerial options for entering or leaving the country.

Furthermore, the strike has paralyzed ground transportation. Significant disruptions are reported across the national railway operator (SNCB), as well as regional bus and tram networks. This creates a compounding logistical challenge: even passengers on the 93 incoming flights that do land at Brussels Airport may find themselves stranded upon arrival, unable to secure public transport to their final destinations.

We strongly recommend that passengers scheduled to fly to Brussels on Wednesday check their flight status directly with their airlines. Carriers are responsible for informing passengers of cancellations and offering rebooking options. For those scheduled to depart from Brussels, the advice is unequivocal: do not travel to the airport, as no passenger flights will be taking off.

Concluding Section

The events unfolding on November 26, 2025, highlight the fragility of modern transport networks when faced with coordinated industrial action. With over 300 combined flights cancelled at Brussels Airport alone, and a total shutdown at Charleroi, the economic and logistical toll is significant. The strike serves as a potent reminder of the ongoing tensions regarding fiscal policy and labor rights within Belgium.

As the immediate disruptions clear, the focus will likely shift to the backlog of displaced passengers and the resumption of normal schedules. However, the underlying political disagreements regarding the federal budget and labor reforms remain unresolved, suggesting that the dialogue between the government and unions will continue to be a critical factor in the stability of Belgian public services in the near future.

FAQ

Question: Are all flights to Brussels cancelled on Wednesday, November 26?
Answer: No, not all incoming flights are cancelled. Approximately 110 out of 203 incoming flights have been cancelled. However, the remaining flights may still face delays. All departing passenger flights, however, are cancelled.

Question: Why are the flights being cancelled?
Answer: The cancellations are due to a nationwide general strike in Belgium. A shortage of security and ground-handling staff makes it impossible to guarantee safe operations for all flights.

Question: Is public transport available from the airport?
Answer: Public transport is also severely affected by the strike. Trains (SNCB), buses, and trams are experiencing significant disruptions, making travel to and from the airport difficult.

Sources: Reuters