Belgium’s main international gateway moved into full winter-operations mode on 9 January after an overnight snow front dumped up to six centimetres of powder across central Belgium. In consultation with airlines and ground-handling partners, Brussels Airport pre-emptively scrubbed 40 flights—20 arrivals and 20 departures—to keep stand positions and taxiways clear for priority movements. De-icing trucks rolled out from 04:00, while sweeping convoys worked non-stop to maintain runway friction. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/be/heavy-snow-forces-brussels-airport-to-cancel-40-flights-and-activate-code-orange-winter-plan/))
The Royal Meteorological Institute’s code-orange alert obliges critical infrastructure operators to implement contingency measures. For the airport that meant capping hourly movements, lengthening turnaround times and redistributing wide-body departures away from the busy early-morning wave when temperatures were forecast to remain below –5 °C. Passengers were advised to arrive at least three hours before departure, and airlines warned of average delays of 30–45 minutes for the rest of the day. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/be/heavy-snow-forces-brussels-airport-to-cancel-40-flights-and-activate-code-orange-winter-plan/))
![Heavy snow forces Brussels Airport to cancel 40 flights and activate code-orange winter plan]()
Travellers who suddenly find themselves re-routed or at risk of overstaying their Schengen allowances can turn to VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) for rapid visa checks, extension options and courier submission services. The platform gives mobility managers a single dashboard to track compliance and arrange last-minute documentation, smoothing the administrative shocks that often follow weather-related disruption.
Global-mobility managers felt the impact immediately. Cancelled hub-and-spoke services stranded transfer passengers who had to be re-routed through Paris, Frankfurt or Amsterdam—airports already grappling with the same storm system. Rebooked travellers faced additional Schengen immigration checks and, in some cases, a need to re-calculate 90/180-day stay limits. Cargo bellies lost on the scrubbed passenger flights were shifted to Liège or Frankfurt, tightening capacity at neighbouring freight hubs just as post-holiday e-commerce volumes peaked. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/be/heavy-snow-forces-brussels-airport-to-cancel-40-flights-and-activate-code-orange-winter-plan/))
Companies with time-critical shipments or relocating staff are urged to activate contingency travel-risk plans. Several airlines have issued change-fee waivers for tickets dated before 7 January, provided new travel falls before 15 January. Mobility teams should also anticipate administrative knock-ons: delayed newcomers may crowd municipal registration desks next week, lengthening wait times for residence permits and eID cards. With freezing fog forecast overnight, further runway tests remain possible—underscoring the need for real-time itinerary tracking and generous buffers in Belgian travel policies. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/be/heavy-snow-forces-brussels-airport-to-cancel-40-flights-and-activate-code-orange-winter-plan/))
The Royal Meteorological Institute’s code-orange alert obliges critical infrastructure operators to implement contingency measures. For the airport that meant capping hourly movements, lengthening turnaround times and redistributing wide-body departures away from the busy early-morning wave when temperatures were forecast to remain below –5 °C. Passengers were advised to arrive at least three hours before departure, and airlines warned of average delays of 30–45 minutes for the rest of the day. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/be/heavy-snow-forces-brussels-airport-to-cancel-40-flights-and-activate-code-orange-winter-plan/))
Travellers who suddenly find themselves re-routed or at risk of overstaying their Schengen allowances can turn to VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) for rapid visa checks, extension options and courier submission services. The platform gives mobility managers a single dashboard to track compliance and arrange last-minute documentation, smoothing the administrative shocks that often follow weather-related disruption.
Global-mobility managers felt the impact immediately. Cancelled hub-and-spoke services stranded transfer passengers who had to be re-routed through Paris, Frankfurt or Amsterdam—airports already grappling with the same storm system. Rebooked travellers faced additional Schengen immigration checks and, in some cases, a need to re-calculate 90/180-day stay limits. Cargo bellies lost on the scrubbed passenger flights were shifted to Liège or Frankfurt, tightening capacity at neighbouring freight hubs just as post-holiday e-commerce volumes peaked. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/be/heavy-snow-forces-brussels-airport-to-cancel-40-flights-and-activate-code-orange-winter-plan/))
Companies with time-critical shipments or relocating staff are urged to activate contingency travel-risk plans. Several airlines have issued change-fee waivers for tickets dated before 7 January, provided new travel falls before 15 January. Mobility teams should also anticipate administrative knock-ons: delayed newcomers may crowd municipal registration desks next week, lengthening wait times for residence permits and eID cards. With freezing fog forecast overnight, further runway tests remain possible—underscoring the need for real-time itinerary tracking and generous buffers in Belgian travel policies. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/be/heavy-snow-forces-brussels-airport-to-cancel-40-flights-and-activate-code-orange-winter-plan/))
