Belgian cabinet endorses €50 million national anti-drone shield for all airports by 2026
Drone incursions shut Brussels & Liège airports, paralysing Belgian business travel
Eurocontrol issues ‘zero-rate’ air-traffic restriction over Belgium amid drone threat
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China extends 30-day visa-free access for Belgian passport holders until 2026
Beijing has prolonged its visa-free regime for Belgians until end-2026, enabling 30-day trips without paperwork and easing urgent travel for Belgian corporates with Chinese operations.
EU abolishes multiple-entry visas for Russians; Belgian consulates move to single-trip screening
The European Commission ended the practice of issuing multi-entry Schengen visas to Russian citizens on 7 November. Belgian consulates will shift to single-entry screening, lengthening processing times and complicating business travel links between Belgian companies and Russia.
Belgium turns to NATO as suspected Russian drones probe airports and bases
Belgium has asked NATO for help countering suspected Russian drone incursions that have targeted both civilian airports and strategic airbases. The request underscores the geopolitical dimension of this week’s air-space disruptions.
Belgium creates National Airspace Security Centre after wave of drone incursions
Belgium will open a National Air-space Security Centre on 1 January 2026 to coordinate drone detection and response after a string of incursions that halted flights at five airports this week. The €50 million project centralises radar data and gives police new powers to neutralise rogue drones, which officials suspect may be linked to hostile state actors. Businesses should prepare for tighter aviation security but more predictable crisis management.
Airport security strike continues to pinch capacity as unions press pay demands
A six-week-old strike by outsourced security staff is still curbing Brussels Airport’s throughput. With the dispute unresolved, travellers face longer queues and sporadic flight cancellations on top of drone-related uncertainty.
Simultaneous drone alerts disrupt Brussels and Liège airports
Coordinated 30-minute stoppages at Brussels and Liège on 6 November snarled express freight flows and delayed scheduled passenger services. Logistics groups fear repeated drone incidents could erode Belgium’s competitive edge in time-critical cargo.
Evening drone sighting forces 30-minute shutdown at Brussels Airport
A fresh drone sighting on 6 November forced Brussels Airport to suspend traffic for half an hour, causing diversions and missed connections. The quick closure shows how even brief incursions can ripple through passenger and cargo schedules.