Temperatures hovering around –4 °C forced Brussels Airport to deploy its full de-icing fleet on 5 and 6 January 2026, adding up to 45 minutes to aircraft turn-around times. Unlike Amsterdam and Paris, which cancelled hundreds of services, Brussels kept its schedule largely intact thanks to night-time runway treatments and ample glycol reserves.
Airport spokesman Jeffrey Franssens told local media the operation was “under control,” yet acknowledged knock-on effects for connecting passengers, particularly those on tight intra-Schengen itineraries. Several trans-Atlantic departures were held to await feeder flights, illustrating the interconnected nature of corporate mobility chains.
![De-icing delays ripple through Brussels Airport operations but flights continue amid Europe-wide freeze]()
Travel risk consultants advise companies to build winter weather clauses into employee travel policies—authorising ticket changes without prior line-manager approval and covering accommodation if connections mis-align. They also highlight a lesser-known immigration risk: missed outbound legs can push non-EU travellers beyond the 90/180-day Schengen limit, incurring fines when they eventually exit through Belgium. HR teams should therefore audit passport-stamp histories when re-booking.
For organisations needing extra assurance on visa compliance in such scenarios, VisaHQ provides a digital toolkit that can monitor travellers’ Schengen-day counts, arrange rapid Belgian visa extensions and issue real-time alerts to travel managers. Explore how the service works at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/.
The episode is an early test of the airport’s new integrated operations centre, opened in December 2025, which brings airline ground handlers, border police and customs under one roof. Stakeholders say the hub shortened communication loops during the freeze, a promising sign ahead of busier Easter traffic.
Airport spokesman Jeffrey Franssens told local media the operation was “under control,” yet acknowledged knock-on effects for connecting passengers, particularly those on tight intra-Schengen itineraries. Several trans-Atlantic departures were held to await feeder flights, illustrating the interconnected nature of corporate mobility chains.
Travel risk consultants advise companies to build winter weather clauses into employee travel policies—authorising ticket changes without prior line-manager approval and covering accommodation if connections mis-align. They also highlight a lesser-known immigration risk: missed outbound legs can push non-EU travellers beyond the 90/180-day Schengen limit, incurring fines when they eventually exit through Belgium. HR teams should therefore audit passport-stamp histories when re-booking.
For organisations needing extra assurance on visa compliance in such scenarios, VisaHQ provides a digital toolkit that can monitor travellers’ Schengen-day counts, arrange rapid Belgian visa extensions and issue real-time alerts to travel managers. Explore how the service works at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/.
The episode is an early test of the airport’s new integrated operations centre, opened in December 2025, which brings airline ground handlers, border police and customs under one roof. Stakeholders say the hub shortened communication loops during the freeze, a promising sign ahead of busier Easter traffic.
