Belgium’s three main union federations have called a 24-hour general strike for Thursday 12 March. Although the protest is aimed at federal welfare reforms rather than the aviation sector, its biggest visible impact will be at the nation’s airports.
Brussels Airport (BRU) confirmed on 8 March that it is cancelling every outbound commercial flight on the day of the walk-out. Management said the decision was taken “to guarantee the safety of passengers and staff and to avoid unmanageable queues,” after security screeners, baggage handlers and ground staff all indicated they would join the action. Arriving flights may still operate, but disruptions are likely and last-minute diversions cannot be ruled out.
If travel plans have to be re-routed through neighbouring hubs, remember that altered itineraries can trigger new transit or entry requirements. VisaHQ can quickly check those rules and arrange the necessary visas online via its Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/), giving travellers real-time updates and saving precious time during strike-related disruptions.
![12 March national strike will shut down all passenger departures at Brussels and Charleroi airports]()
Charleroi Airport (CRL) – Belgium’s second-busiest passenger hub – announced an even wider shutdown. Both departures and arrivals will cease for at least 24 hours, forcing Ryanair, Wizz Air and other low-cost carriers to re-book or refund thousands of travellers. Airlines have until 10 March to notify customers of new options; Brussels Airlines and TUI Fly have already opened free re-booking windows.
Frequent strikes have become a serious mobility risk for corporates moving staff through Belgium. 2025 saw seven national actions that cancelled 2,400 flights and cost carriers an estimated €15 million. Travel managers are being urged to shift critical staff movements to dates before or after 12 March or to routings via Amsterdam, Paris-CDG or Düsseldorf. Rail links and local public transport in Brussels are also expected to suffer severe disruptions, so contingency ground transport should be arranged.
For expatriate assignees and business travellers, the practical advice is clear: avoid Belgian airports on 12 March, monitor airline notifications closely and keep hotel reservations flexible. Companies with time-sensitive cargo should also verify that freight forwarding contracts include strike-contingency clauses, as belly-hold capacity will be drastically reduced for at least 24 hours.
Brussels Airport (BRU) confirmed on 8 March that it is cancelling every outbound commercial flight on the day of the walk-out. Management said the decision was taken “to guarantee the safety of passengers and staff and to avoid unmanageable queues,” after security screeners, baggage handlers and ground staff all indicated they would join the action. Arriving flights may still operate, but disruptions are likely and last-minute diversions cannot be ruled out.
If travel plans have to be re-routed through neighbouring hubs, remember that altered itineraries can trigger new transit or entry requirements. VisaHQ can quickly check those rules and arrange the necessary visas online via its Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/), giving travellers real-time updates and saving precious time during strike-related disruptions.
Charleroi Airport (CRL) – Belgium’s second-busiest passenger hub – announced an even wider shutdown. Both departures and arrivals will cease for at least 24 hours, forcing Ryanair, Wizz Air and other low-cost carriers to re-book or refund thousands of travellers. Airlines have until 10 March to notify customers of new options; Brussels Airlines and TUI Fly have already opened free re-booking windows.
Frequent strikes have become a serious mobility risk for corporates moving staff through Belgium. 2025 saw seven national actions that cancelled 2,400 flights and cost carriers an estimated €15 million. Travel managers are being urged to shift critical staff movements to dates before or after 12 March or to routings via Amsterdam, Paris-CDG or Düsseldorf. Rail links and local public transport in Brussels are also expected to suffer severe disruptions, so contingency ground transport should be arranged.
For expatriate assignees and business travellers, the practical advice is clear: avoid Belgian airports on 12 March, monitor airline notifications closely and keep hotel reservations flexible. Companies with time-sensitive cargo should also verify that freight forwarding contracts include strike-contingency clauses, as belly-hold capacity will be drastically reduced for at least 24 hours.
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