Commuting in and out of Brussels could become an unwelcome post-Christmas puzzle. STIB-MIVB, the public transport operator for the capital region, published an urgent notice on 24 December stating that one of its three trade unions is considering blockading depots on Friday 26 December. If the walk-out proceeds, metro, tram and bus services across the network – including the crucial line 12 airport bus – may run on a skeleton schedule or stop altogether.
The timing is awkward for business travellers and returning expatriates. Eurocontrol data show 26 December is the third-busiest arrival day of the season at Brussels Airport. With many taxi drivers on holiday and rail services already thinned by engineering works, any shutdown of urban transport could ripple out, lengthening door-to-door journey times and triggering missed flights or meetings.
STIB says it cannot yet quantify the impact but promises live updates from 06:00 on Friday via its website and social-media channels. Customer-service lines will run at reduced staffing because of the festive period, so travellers are advised to rely on the operator’s app for real-time headways and to consider contingency plans, including ride-shares or hotel overnights near the airport or the EU quarter.
![Christmas travel at risk as Brussels transport operator warns of 26 December strike disruption]()
For those whose disrupted itineraries suddenly require an unplanned cross-border detour, sorting out travel documents can become an extra headache. VisaHQ’s Brussels team (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) can expedite visas, passport renewals and document legalisations, letting travellers focus on rebooking transport while the paperwork is handled swiftly and professionally.
For employers, the potential strike underscores the importance of flexible working policies during the holiday season. Companies with offices in the Brussels Capital Region may wish to extend remote-work authorisations, stagger start times or pre-book shuttle buses for critical staff. Expatriate families expecting visitors should alert them to allow extra margin when transiting between Zaventem, the city centre and Eurostar services at Brussels-Midi.
While industrial action is a familiar end-of-year ritual in Belgium, this stoppage – if confirmed – would be the first to affect the new driverless metro line segments that opened in October. Observers will watch closely whether automation mitigates service loss or, conversely, whether depot blockades neutralise the technology. Either way, mobility managers should monitor developments on Christmas Day and stand ready to cascade updates to travellers.
The timing is awkward for business travellers and returning expatriates. Eurocontrol data show 26 December is the third-busiest arrival day of the season at Brussels Airport. With many taxi drivers on holiday and rail services already thinned by engineering works, any shutdown of urban transport could ripple out, lengthening door-to-door journey times and triggering missed flights or meetings.
STIB says it cannot yet quantify the impact but promises live updates from 06:00 on Friday via its website and social-media channels. Customer-service lines will run at reduced staffing because of the festive period, so travellers are advised to rely on the operator’s app for real-time headways and to consider contingency plans, including ride-shares or hotel overnights near the airport or the EU quarter.
For those whose disrupted itineraries suddenly require an unplanned cross-border detour, sorting out travel documents can become an extra headache. VisaHQ’s Brussels team (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) can expedite visas, passport renewals and document legalisations, letting travellers focus on rebooking transport while the paperwork is handled swiftly and professionally.
For employers, the potential strike underscores the importance of flexible working policies during the holiday season. Companies with offices in the Brussels Capital Region may wish to extend remote-work authorisations, stagger start times or pre-book shuttle buses for critical staff. Expatriate families expecting visitors should alert them to allow extra margin when transiting between Zaventem, the city centre and Eurostar services at Brussels-Midi.
While industrial action is a familiar end-of-year ritual in Belgium, this stoppage – if confirmed – would be the first to affect the new driverless metro line segments that opened in October. Observers will watch closely whether automation mitigates service loss or, conversely, whether depot blockades neutralise the technology. Either way, mobility managers should monitor developments on Christmas Day and stand ready to cascade updates to travellers.
