Around 140 flights have been cancelled at Brussels Airport (BRU) today, Friday 9 October 2026, due to a large-scale national demonstration and strike action across Belgium. The disruptions are primarily caused by reduced staffing levels at Alyzia, one of the airport’s main ground handling providers. Five rotations to and from Dublin today are not affected by the action.
Roughly half of all flights handled by Alyzia have been grounded. Brussels Airlines has been hit hard, expecting to cancel nearly 40% of its Friday schedule. Major international carriers like Emirates and United Airlines are also among the 21 airlines using Alyzia that may face cancellations or delays.
Flights handled by the airport’s other major ground handler, Aviapartner, are operating normally with no expected impact. Affected passengers should be contacted directly by their airlines with alternative flight arrangements or refund options.
A second public sector strike is scheduled for Monday 12 October 2026. According to current statements from Brussels Airport, this action is not expected to impact air traffic. However, significant disruptions to local public transport and other public services are highly anticipated. If you are travelling on Monday, you are advised to allow extra time and plan your journey to and from the airport carefully.
