Icy temperatures returned to Belgium on 5 January, forcing Brussels Airport to break out its full de-icing arsenal. According to airport spokesperson Jeffrey Franssens, only a “limited number of flights” were affected, but de-icing added 30–45 minutes to turnaround times and created ripples in departure timetables.
Unlike neighbouring hubs—Schiphol cancelled hundreds of flights and Paris saw widespread disruptions—Brussels avoided outright cancellations thanks to adequate glycol reserves and overnight runway treatments. Airlines nevertheless urged business travellers to arrive early and build buffer time into connections, particularly for trans-Atlantic or onward intra-Schengen hops.
For mobility managers the key risk is missed onward travel and visa-linked overstays. Non-EU assignees nearing the end of their 90-day Schengen allowance should document weather-related delays in case audits arise. Cargo operators reported only minor slippage in slot allocation, but warned that sustained freezing could divert freight to Liège or Cologne.
![De-Icing Delays Hit Brussels Airport but Flights Keep Moving]()
Should changing flight plans push travellers toward visa extensions or fresh applications, VisaHQ can accelerate the process. Its Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides up-to-date Schengen guidance, digital document uploads and courier logistics, helping both corporate mobility teams and individual passengers stay compliant even when winter weather scrambles itineraries.
Meteorologists expect sub-zero nights through 7 January, and the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) has retained a yellow alert for snow and ice. Travellers should monitor airline waiver policies; several carriers are allowing free changes for Belgium-origin itineraries through the end of the week.
Looking ahead, Brussels Airport says it will review glycol stock-management and explore additional heated parking stands, part of a broader winter-operations upgrade scheduled for discussion with Belgium’s civil-aviation authority next month.
Unlike neighbouring hubs—Schiphol cancelled hundreds of flights and Paris saw widespread disruptions—Brussels avoided outright cancellations thanks to adequate glycol reserves and overnight runway treatments. Airlines nevertheless urged business travellers to arrive early and build buffer time into connections, particularly for trans-Atlantic or onward intra-Schengen hops.
For mobility managers the key risk is missed onward travel and visa-linked overstays. Non-EU assignees nearing the end of their 90-day Schengen allowance should document weather-related delays in case audits arise. Cargo operators reported only minor slippage in slot allocation, but warned that sustained freezing could divert freight to Liège or Cologne.
Should changing flight plans push travellers toward visa extensions or fresh applications, VisaHQ can accelerate the process. Its Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides up-to-date Schengen guidance, digital document uploads and courier logistics, helping both corporate mobility teams and individual passengers stay compliant even when winter weather scrambles itineraries.
Meteorologists expect sub-zero nights through 7 January, and the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) has retained a yellow alert for snow and ice. Travellers should monitor airline waiver policies; several carriers are allowing free changes for Belgium-origin itineraries through the end of the week.
Looking ahead, Brussels Airport says it will review glycol stock-management and explore additional heated parking stands, part of a broader winter-operations upgrade scheduled for discussion with Belgium’s civil-aviation authority next month.
