Good news for commuters: Brussels public-transport authority STIB-MIVB announced late on 26 November that it expects all metro, tram and bus lines to run normally from the morning of 27 November. Only two metro lines had operated during the strike’s peak, and several tram routes were truncated.
The return to regular schedules will ease airport-transfer bottlenecks and allow international assignees to reach municipal offices and business districts without relying on taxis. STIB warns, however, that ridership could spike above normal because many travellers postponed journeys; longer dwell times at key interchanges such as Gare du Midi and Arts-Loi are likely.
![Brussels transport operator confirms full metro, tram and bus service will resume on 27 November]()
Employers should remind staff that masks remain mandatory on public transport until 31 December under Belgium’s residual COVID-19 rules. Those holding season tickets can claim compensation for the three lost service days via the “strike guarantee” section of the STIB website.
Separately, Brussels Airport forecasts 68,000 passengers on 27 November—about 13 percent above a typical Thursday—as airlines work through the backlog. The airport recommends arriving two hours before intra-Schengen flights and three hours for long-haul.
The swift restoration of urban transport contrasts with ongoing rail and Eurostar adjustments, underscoring the fragmented nature of Belgium’s post-strike recovery and the need for multimodal contingency planning.
The return to regular schedules will ease airport-transfer bottlenecks and allow international assignees to reach municipal offices and business districts without relying on taxis. STIB warns, however, that ridership could spike above normal because many travellers postponed journeys; longer dwell times at key interchanges such as Gare du Midi and Arts-Loi are likely.
Employers should remind staff that masks remain mandatory on public transport until 31 December under Belgium’s residual COVID-19 rules. Those holding season tickets can claim compensation for the three lost service days via the “strike guarantee” section of the STIB website.
Separately, Brussels Airport forecasts 68,000 passengers on 27 November—about 13 percent above a typical Thursday—as airlines work through the backlog. The airport recommends arriving two hours before intra-Schengen flights and three hours for long-haul.
The swift restoration of urban transport contrasts with ongoing rail and Eurostar adjustments, underscoring the fragmented nature of Belgium’s post-strike recovery and the need for multimodal contingency planning.
