EU Lifts Visa Restrictions on Ethiopia, Easing Schengen Processing for Belgian Consulates
Belgian Coastal Police Warn of Rising ‘Transmigration’ Attempts to the UK
Deadlock on Brussels Airport Passport Queues Leaves Business Travellers Waiting
Latest News
Lightning Strike Forces Brussels Airlines Jet Back to Zaventem, Minor Ripple Delays Across Network
A Brussels Airlines flight returned safely to Brussels after being struck by lightning en route to Budapest, delaying passengers by roughly 2.5 hours and causing minor knock-on delays across the network. While no injuries occurred, the event highlights the need for corporations to factor seasonal weather risks into Belgian departure schedules.
Brussels Airport border-control chaos sparks federal–regional row over staffing and infrastructure
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin says four-hour immigration queues at Brussels Airport are the result of obsolete facilities as well as a shortage of border-police staff. He called on the Flemish Region, now the airport’s largest shareholder, to help finance expansion of the arrivals hall and repair out-of-service e-gates. The standoff will be discussed by federal and regional leaders this week amid warnings that summer traffic could become “absolute chaos”, with knock-on effects for business travel and Belgium’s image.
Engineering works in Germany trigger two-week diversions and longer journey times for Brussels–Cologne ICE & Nightjet services
SNCB warns that, between 18 May and 2 June 2026, ICE and Nightjet trains will detour around Aachen–Cologne works, lengthening Brussels–Germany journeys by up to 40 minutes and truncating some services at Cologne. Businesses are urged to re-check timetables, build extra buffer time into meeting agendas and consider alternative routes.
Eurostar issues real-time alert: network-wide delays hit Brussels-bound services on 18 May
Eurostar’s live updates page flagged multiple delays on 18 May, including at Brussels-Midi, as traffic and operational issues rippled across the Belgian, French and Dutch networks. Travellers can change tickets without penalty if delays exceed one hour, and firms are urged to monitor alerts closely during the ongoing maintenance season.