With Belgian unions planning a three-day wave of industrial action that will shut down rail, public services and large parts of Brussels Airport from 24 to 26 November, Air Canada has proactively activated a ‘goodwill policy’ for customers ticketed to, from or via Brussels. Passengers who purchased their tickets before 11 November for travel on 25–26 November may rebook once, free of charge and without fare difference, onto flights between 24 November and 3 December, provided the same cabin is used. The waiver also applies to itineraries re-routed onto United Airlines or Lufthansa Group services.
Change requests must be submitted at least two hours before scheduled departure, and holiday packages booked through Air Canada Vacations must be amended via the tour operator. The gesture is unusual: major network carriers seldom extend EU-origin waivers so far in advance of a strike.
![Air Canada Waives Change Fees Ahead of Belgium’s 24-26 November Strike]()
Corporate mobility programmes should alert travellers now, as ground transport to Zaventem will be heavily disrupted even if flights operate. For inbound assignees, consider routing via Amsterdam or Paris and using ground transfers. Employers should also prepare for remote-work contingencies on strike days in case commuting becomes impossible.
Other airlines are expected to publish similar waiver policies once exact strike participation levels are clearer. Monitoring individual carrier alerts and union negotiations over the next ten days is advised.
Change requests must be submitted at least two hours before scheduled departure, and holiday packages booked through Air Canada Vacations must be amended via the tour operator. The gesture is unusual: major network carriers seldom extend EU-origin waivers so far in advance of a strike.
Corporate mobility programmes should alert travellers now, as ground transport to Zaventem will be heavily disrupted even if flights operate. For inbound assignees, consider routing via Amsterdam or Paris and using ground transfers. Employers should also prepare for remote-work contingencies on strike days in case commuting becomes impossible.
Other airlines are expected to publish similar waiver policies once exact strike participation levels are clearer. Monitoring individual carrier alerts and union negotiations over the next ten days is advised.
