Brussels found itself in the eye of a fast-moving Arctic front on Sunday, as heavy snowfall blanketed Belgium and much of the Benelux region. By early evening, Eurocontrol asked carriers to cut scheduled movements at Brussels Airport (BRU) by up to 60 percent, mirroring even steeper reductions at Amsterdam’s Schiphol. Airlines responded by cancelling or delaying dozens of services, especially short-haul rotations to European hubs and long-haul departures to North America and the Gulf.
The Royal Meteorological Institute (IRM) had issued a code-yellow alert for central Belgium, warning of two to six centimetres of accumulation and gusts topping 50 km/h. While that may sound modest, the timing—right in the middle of the evening departure “wave”—meant that de-icing trucks, runway sweepers and crews were already stretched. According to live data, average departure delays at BRU surged past 75 minutes, and 18 inbound flights diverted to Liège and Lille.
For corporate travel and mobility managers the disruption was immediate. Multinationals based in Brussels’ EU quarter activated emergency communication trees, rebooked travellers on Monday-morning rotations and arranged overnight accommodation for stranded staff. HR teams were reminded that Belgium’s €250 per-diem tax-free allowance for business travel covers “extraordinary overnight costs” in such cases, but that receipts are still required.
![Snowstorm Grounds Scores of Flights at Brussels Airport, Forcing Mobility Teams into Crisis Mode]()
Before rebooking, travellers should also double-check that any short-notice itinerary changes don’t push them beyond the validity window of their Schengen visa or Belgian residence endorsement. VisaHQ, whose online platform (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) tracks real-time embassy updates, can fast-track extensions, advise on multi-entry options and arrange courier pickup of passports—an especially handy service when consulates operate on reduced winter hours.
Eurocontrol’s network-operations portal cautioned that flow-management measures could remain in place through Monday because the snow band is forecast to track east toward Germany. Companies with time-critical cargo should note that BRU’s Brucargo zone operated at reduced tempo, with Pharma & Life-Science shipments receiving priority. Courier firms have advised shippers to expect 12-to-24-hour knock-on delays.
The airport itself urged passengers to arrive three hours before long-haul departures and to monitor airline apps for rebooking options. Travellers heading to onward Schengen destinations were reminded that manual border-control booths can add another 30 minutes to the journey when e-gates are congested—important for those with tight rail or chauffeur connections into the EU district.
The Royal Meteorological Institute (IRM) had issued a code-yellow alert for central Belgium, warning of two to six centimetres of accumulation and gusts topping 50 km/h. While that may sound modest, the timing—right in the middle of the evening departure “wave”—meant that de-icing trucks, runway sweepers and crews were already stretched. According to live data, average departure delays at BRU surged past 75 minutes, and 18 inbound flights diverted to Liège and Lille.
For corporate travel and mobility managers the disruption was immediate. Multinationals based in Brussels’ EU quarter activated emergency communication trees, rebooked travellers on Monday-morning rotations and arranged overnight accommodation for stranded staff. HR teams were reminded that Belgium’s €250 per-diem tax-free allowance for business travel covers “extraordinary overnight costs” in such cases, but that receipts are still required.
Before rebooking, travellers should also double-check that any short-notice itinerary changes don’t push them beyond the validity window of their Schengen visa or Belgian residence endorsement. VisaHQ, whose online platform (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) tracks real-time embassy updates, can fast-track extensions, advise on multi-entry options and arrange courier pickup of passports—an especially handy service when consulates operate on reduced winter hours.
Eurocontrol’s network-operations portal cautioned that flow-management measures could remain in place through Monday because the snow band is forecast to track east toward Germany. Companies with time-critical cargo should note that BRU’s Brucargo zone operated at reduced tempo, with Pharma & Life-Science shipments receiving priority. Courier firms have advised shippers to expect 12-to-24-hour knock-on delays.
The airport itself urged passengers to arrive three hours before long-haul departures and to monitor airline apps for rebooking options. Travellers heading to onward Schengen destinations were reminded that manual border-control booths can add another 30 minutes to the journey when e-gates are congested—important for those with tight rail or chauffeur connections into the EU district.
