Fresh data published on 28 November reveal the full scale of the previous day’s nationwide strike on Belgium’s main aviation hub. FlightAware statistics show that 60 services were cancelled outright at Brussels Airport while a further 174 suffered delays — some exceeding four hours — as ground-handling staff, security agents and air-traffic controllers joined union walk-outs over pension and wage reforms.
The disruption hit both short-haul and long-haul operations. Iberia, Brussels Airlines and Ryanair axed multiple departures to Madrid, Geneva and Stockholm, while Air Canada’s Montréal service left more than three hours behind schedule. Ramp shortages meant arriving aircraft waited for parking stands, pushing crew-duty limits and cascading delays across the late-evening wave. Hoteliers in the Zaventem corridor reported 98 % occupancy as stranded passengers scrambled for rooms.
![Strike Fallout: 60 Flights Cancelled and 174 Delayed at Brussels Airport]()
Business-travel impact was significant. Several multinationals, including Solvay and Deloitte, activated remote-work protocols for visiting staff and urged travellers to switch to rail where possible. Logistics companies diverted time-critical cargo to Liège and Maastricht, incurring extra trucking costs.
With unions warning of further actions in January, global-mobility teams are advised to build contingency days into assignment travel, keep digital copies of work permits handy for re-routing via neighbouring countries, and brief travellers on EU air-passenger-rights compensation thresholds.
The airport has now returned to normal operations but warns that baggage backlogs could persist until the weekend. Travellers should arrive early and monitor airline apps for rolling re-timings.
The disruption hit both short-haul and long-haul operations. Iberia, Brussels Airlines and Ryanair axed multiple departures to Madrid, Geneva and Stockholm, while Air Canada’s Montréal service left more than three hours behind schedule. Ramp shortages meant arriving aircraft waited for parking stands, pushing crew-duty limits and cascading delays across the late-evening wave. Hoteliers in the Zaventem corridor reported 98 % occupancy as stranded passengers scrambled for rooms.
Business-travel impact was significant. Several multinationals, including Solvay and Deloitte, activated remote-work protocols for visiting staff and urged travellers to switch to rail where possible. Logistics companies diverted time-critical cargo to Liège and Maastricht, incurring extra trucking costs.
With unions warning of further actions in January, global-mobility teams are advised to build contingency days into assignment travel, keep digital copies of work permits handy for re-routing via neighbouring countries, and brief travellers on EU air-passenger-rights compensation thresholds.
The airport has now returned to normal operations but warns that baggage backlogs could persist until the weekend. Travellers should arrive early and monitor airline apps for rolling re-timings.
