Brussels Airport went into full winter-operations mode on Wednesday, 7 January 2026 after an overnight snow-front dumped up to six centimetres of powder across much of the country. Airport management pre-emptively cancelled 40 flights—20 arrivals and 20 departures—and warned that average delays of 30–45 minutes were likely for the rest of the day. De-icing trucks were dispatched from 04:00, while runway-sweeping teams worked in rolling convoys to keep the single operational runway open. ([brusselstimes.com](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1907106/winter-weather-brussels-airport-cancels-40-flights-code-orange-warning-extended-tbtb?utm_source=openai))
The code-orange alert issued by the Royal Meteorological Institute covers all provinces except the coast and obliges airports and motorway operators to activate contingency plans. For airlines this means extra buffer time between rotations, higher minimum fuel requirements in case of holding, and coordination with Eurocontrol to manage slot delays. Business-aviation operators based at Brussels’ General Aviation Terminal reported diversion plans to Liège or Luxembourg if queues for de-icing exceeded 60 minutes. ([brusselstimes.com](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1907106/winter-weather-brussels-airport-cancels-40-flights-code-orange-warning-extended-tbtb?utm_source=openai))
![Brussels Airport cancels 40 flights as heavy snow triggers code-orange warning]()
During weather disruptions like these, travellers who suddenly need to reroute via alternate hubs or extend their stay can quickly verify visa or passport validity through VisaHQ’s Belgium portal. The platform (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers real-time entry requirements and expedited processing options, helping passengers avoid additional administrative headaches while airlines and airports work through snow delays.
Corporate travel managers with tight itineraries are being advised to switch early-morning meetings to virtual or to move them to hotels near the airport. Global mobility specialists warn that missed connections caused by weather are **not** covered by EU 261 compensation, so executives should keep boarding-pass evidence and book fully flexible fares where possible. Multinational companies with rotational assignees flying in from the US and the Gulf have already started re-routing via Frankfurt and Paris-CDG, where de-icing capacity is higher. ([brusselstimes.com](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1907106/winter-weather-brussels-airport-cancels-40-flights-code-orange-warning-extended-tbtb?utm_source=openai))
Looking ahead, ground-handling unions say staffing levels remain stretched after last year’s cost-cutting rounds. If the cold snap lingers, accumulated duty-time restrictions could further slow aircraft turnaround. Brussels Airport’s winter-operations manual allows it to close one runway completely to concentrate resources on the other; if that happens, capacity would drop by roughly 30 %, magnifying knock-on effects across the Lufthansa Group network. ([brusselstimes.com](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1907106/winter-weather-brussels-airport-cancels-40-flights-code-orange-warning-extended-tbtb?utm_source=openai))
The code-orange alert issued by the Royal Meteorological Institute covers all provinces except the coast and obliges airports and motorway operators to activate contingency plans. For airlines this means extra buffer time between rotations, higher minimum fuel requirements in case of holding, and coordination with Eurocontrol to manage slot delays. Business-aviation operators based at Brussels’ General Aviation Terminal reported diversion plans to Liège or Luxembourg if queues for de-icing exceeded 60 minutes. ([brusselstimes.com](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1907106/winter-weather-brussels-airport-cancels-40-flights-code-orange-warning-extended-tbtb?utm_source=openai))
During weather disruptions like these, travellers who suddenly need to reroute via alternate hubs or extend their stay can quickly verify visa or passport validity through VisaHQ’s Belgium portal. The platform (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers real-time entry requirements and expedited processing options, helping passengers avoid additional administrative headaches while airlines and airports work through snow delays.
Corporate travel managers with tight itineraries are being advised to switch early-morning meetings to virtual or to move them to hotels near the airport. Global mobility specialists warn that missed connections caused by weather are **not** covered by EU 261 compensation, so executives should keep boarding-pass evidence and book fully flexible fares where possible. Multinational companies with rotational assignees flying in from the US and the Gulf have already started re-routing via Frankfurt and Paris-CDG, where de-icing capacity is higher. ([brusselstimes.com](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1907106/winter-weather-brussels-airport-cancels-40-flights-code-orange-warning-extended-tbtb?utm_source=openai))
Looking ahead, ground-handling unions say staffing levels remain stretched after last year’s cost-cutting rounds. If the cold snap lingers, accumulated duty-time restrictions could further slow aircraft turnaround. Brussels Airport’s winter-operations manual allows it to close one runway completely to concentrate resources on the other; if that happens, capacity would drop by roughly 30 %, magnifying knock-on effects across the Lufthansa Group network. ([brusselstimes.com](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1907106/winter-weather-brussels-airport-cancels-40-flights-code-orange-warning-extended-tbtb?utm_source=openai))
