Irish travellers faced unexpected headaches on 26 November after Brussels Airport cancelled all departing flights and 110 of 203 arrivals amid a nationwide strike by Belgian unions. Ryanair, Aer Lingus and Brussels Airlines pre-emptively scrubbed their Dublin–Brussels rotations, advising passengers to rebook or accept refunds. Charleroi Airport, a key Ryanair base, also halted operations.
The walk-out, the third day of industrial action against Belgian pension and labour-market reforms, affected security staff and ground handlers, leaving airlines unable to guarantee safe turnaround times. Eurostar and local rail services were similarly hit, complicating onward journeys for Irish executives connecting to EU institutions or HQs in the Belgian capital.
![Belgian National Strike Grounds Dublin–Brussels Flights, Disrupting Irish Business Travel]()
Travel-management companies (TMCs) in Ireland reported a surge in calls from corporate clients seeking same-day rerouting via Amsterdam, Paris or Frankfurt. With capacity tight, many travellers opted for video meetings or postponed trips—highlighting ongoing fragility in Europe’s transport network during labour disputes.
Under EU261 rules, carriers need not pay cash compensation because strikes are deemed ‘extraordinary circumstances,’ but they must offer rerouting or refunds. Mobility managers should remind travellers to keep receipts for reasonable meals and accommodation, which airlines are obliged to cover.
Normal schedules are expected to resume on 27 November; however, Irish firms with frequent traffic to Brussels are reviewing contingency plans, including flexible rail-air combinations via London and Paris.
The walk-out, the third day of industrial action against Belgian pension and labour-market reforms, affected security staff and ground handlers, leaving airlines unable to guarantee safe turnaround times. Eurostar and local rail services were similarly hit, complicating onward journeys for Irish executives connecting to EU institutions or HQs in the Belgian capital.
Travel-management companies (TMCs) in Ireland reported a surge in calls from corporate clients seeking same-day rerouting via Amsterdam, Paris or Frankfurt. With capacity tight, many travellers opted for video meetings or postponed trips—highlighting ongoing fragility in Europe’s transport network during labour disputes.
Under EU261 rules, carriers need not pay cash compensation because strikes are deemed ‘extraordinary circumstances,’ but they must offer rerouting or refunds. Mobility managers should remind travellers to keep receipts for reasonable meals and accommodation, which airlines are obliged to cover.
Normal schedules are expected to resume on 27 November; however, Irish firms with frequent traffic to Brussels are reviewing contingency plans, including flexible rail-air combinations via London and Paris.
