Air Canada has activated a rare ‘goodwill policy’ for passengers whose itineraries include Brussels Airport during Belgium’s upcoming national strike. Travellers holding tickets issued on or before 11 November for journeys on 25 or 26 November may change their flights once, free of charge, to any date between 24 November and 3 December, provided the same cabin class is available. The waiver applies to flights operated by Air Canada, United Airlines or Lufthansa Group carriers and must be processed at least two hours before scheduled departure.
The policy recognises that the strike will not only ground many flights but also cripple rail and metro links to Zaventem. Road access is also likely to be congested: the 14 October strike saw queues of several kilometres on the E40 motorway as passengers abandoned taxis and walked to the terminal. By allowing early re-routing, Air Canada hopes to reduce last-minute airport congestion and minimise duty-of-care liabilities toward stranded customers.
![Air Canada Offers Free Rebooking Ahead of 24-26 November Belgian Strike]()
Corporate travel programmes stand to benefit most. Global mobility managers can proactively shift key assignees and visiting executives onto alternative dates or routings via Amsterdam, Frankfurt or London Heathrow, avoiding expensive day-of-travel disruptions. Where travel cannot be rescheduled, the airline advises travellers to allow extra time to reach the airport and to monitor flight-status alerts through the Air Canada mobile app.
The move also sets a competitive benchmark. Few non-EU carriers offer fee-free rebooking outside force-majeure events. Should the Belgian strike escalate or extend beyond 26 November, observers expect other international airlines to replicate Air Canada’s policy to protect market share on transatlantic routes.
For passengers who must keep their existing travel dates, Air Canada will refund ancillary services such as prepaid seat selection if the strike forces cancellation. However, the goodwill policy does not cover hotel or surface-transport costs, underscoring the importance of comprehensive travel insurance or corporate risk-management coverage.
The policy recognises that the strike will not only ground many flights but also cripple rail and metro links to Zaventem. Road access is also likely to be congested: the 14 October strike saw queues of several kilometres on the E40 motorway as passengers abandoned taxis and walked to the terminal. By allowing early re-routing, Air Canada hopes to reduce last-minute airport congestion and minimise duty-of-care liabilities toward stranded customers.
Corporate travel programmes stand to benefit most. Global mobility managers can proactively shift key assignees and visiting executives onto alternative dates or routings via Amsterdam, Frankfurt or London Heathrow, avoiding expensive day-of-travel disruptions. Where travel cannot be rescheduled, the airline advises travellers to allow extra time to reach the airport and to monitor flight-status alerts through the Air Canada mobile app.
The move also sets a competitive benchmark. Few non-EU carriers offer fee-free rebooking outside force-majeure events. Should the Belgian strike escalate or extend beyond 26 November, observers expect other international airlines to replicate Air Canada’s policy to protect market share on transatlantic routes.
For passengers who must keep their existing travel dates, Air Canada will refund ancillary services such as prepaid seat selection if the strike forces cancellation. However, the goodwill policy does not cover hotel or surface-transport costs, underscoring the importance of comprehensive travel insurance or corporate risk-management coverage.
