Brussels Airport entered full winter-operations mode on 8 January after an overnight snow front dumped up to six centimetres of powder across central Belgium. In consultation with airlines and ground-handling partners, the airport pre-emptively cancelled 40 flights—20 arrivals and 20 departures—to keep aircraft and stand positions clear for priority operations. De-icing trucks were dispatched from 04:00 while sweeping convoys worked continuously to maintain friction on the single active runway.
The Royal Meteorological Institute’s code-orange alert obliges critical infrastructure operators to implement contingency measures. For the airport, that meant limiting traffic volumes, lengthening minimum turnaround times and redistributing wide-body departures away from the early-morning peak when temperatures were forecast to remain below –5 °C. Airport authorities warned carriers to expect average delays of 30–45 minutes for the rest of the day and advised passengers to arrive at least three hours before departure.
From a mobility-management perspective, the knock-on effect is two-fold. First, cancellations on hub-and-spoke routes can strand transfer passengers connecting to long-haul flights, potentially triggering Schengen re-routing and additional immigration checks for those rebooked through other EU airports. Second, cargo bellies on the scrubbed passenger flights will have to be re-accommodated via Liège or Frankfurt, tightening capacity at neighbouring freight hubs just as post-holiday e-commerce volumes peak.
![Heavy Snow Forces Brussels Airport to Cancel 40 Flights and Activate Code-Orange Winter Plan]()
Companies with time-critical shipments and business travellers on tight schedules should activate pre-agreed rerouting options in their travel-risk plans. HR and mobility teams are encouraged to monitor airline waiver policies: several carriers introduced change-fee exemptions for tickets issued before 7 January, but only if new travel dates fall before 15 January. Finally, assignees returning from Christmas leave should anticipate longer queues at town-hall registration offices next week as delayed newcomers arrive at once.
If the disruptions leave you needing to adjust travel documents or secure a Belgian visa quickly, VisaHQ can simplify the process. Their dedicated Belgium page (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides up-to-date requirements, digital application guides and optional rush services—particularly useful when snow delays shorten the window for in-person consulate visits.
While the snowfall is expected to taper off by the evening of 9 January, forecasters caution that freezing fog overnight could trigger further runway-friction tests. Travellers are therefore advised to keep contact details up to date in airline apps and allow generous buffers when scheduling meetings or visa appointments in the capital.
The Royal Meteorological Institute’s code-orange alert obliges critical infrastructure operators to implement contingency measures. For the airport, that meant limiting traffic volumes, lengthening minimum turnaround times and redistributing wide-body departures away from the early-morning peak when temperatures were forecast to remain below –5 °C. Airport authorities warned carriers to expect average delays of 30–45 minutes for the rest of the day and advised passengers to arrive at least three hours before departure.
From a mobility-management perspective, the knock-on effect is two-fold. First, cancellations on hub-and-spoke routes can strand transfer passengers connecting to long-haul flights, potentially triggering Schengen re-routing and additional immigration checks for those rebooked through other EU airports. Second, cargo bellies on the scrubbed passenger flights will have to be re-accommodated via Liège or Frankfurt, tightening capacity at neighbouring freight hubs just as post-holiday e-commerce volumes peak.
Companies with time-critical shipments and business travellers on tight schedules should activate pre-agreed rerouting options in their travel-risk plans. HR and mobility teams are encouraged to monitor airline waiver policies: several carriers introduced change-fee exemptions for tickets issued before 7 January, but only if new travel dates fall before 15 January. Finally, assignees returning from Christmas leave should anticipate longer queues at town-hall registration offices next week as delayed newcomers arrive at once.
If the disruptions leave you needing to adjust travel documents or secure a Belgian visa quickly, VisaHQ can simplify the process. Their dedicated Belgium page (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides up-to-date requirements, digital application guides and optional rush services—particularly useful when snow delays shorten the window for in-person consulate visits.
While the snowfall is expected to taper off by the evening of 9 January, forecasters caution that freezing fog overnight could trigger further runway-friction tests. Travellers are therefore advised to keep contact details up to date in airline apps and allow generous buffers when scheduling meetings or visa appointments in the capital.
