Belgium Faces Widespread Flight Cancellations Amid Ground Handler Strike

October 8, 2026 — Brussels Airport (BRU) is bracing for significant disruption tomorrow, Friday, October 9, due to a one-day national strike involving staff from airport ground handler Alyzia. The industrial action is expected to result in the cancellation of approximately 140 flights departing from the Belgian capital.

Brussels Airlines confirmed it would be forced to cancel a portion of its scheduled services, with Belgian media reporting around 40 percent of its Friday flights are affected. The airline cited the "expected impact on the workforce of our handling partner [Alyzia]" as the reason for the cancellations.

Ground Handler Strike Impacts Brussels Airport Operations

The strike, scheduled for Friday, October 9, will primarily affect flights handled by Alyzia. Brussels Airport issued a statement indicating that roughly half of the flights managed by Alyzia are still expected to operate as planned. However, a "number of flights will have to be cancelled," the airport stated.

Passengers whose flights are handled by Alyzia have been advised that their respective airlines will contact them directly to provide updates on flight status and available options. For flights handled by Aviapartner, no impact is currently anticipated.

Brussels Airlines, a key operator at BRU, stated: "Due to the national manifestation in Belgium on Friday, 9 October, and the expected impact on the workforce of our handling partner [Alyzia], we are unfortunately required to cancel part of our flight schedule." This aligns with reports from Belgian media outlets suggesting the airline will cancel around 40% of its flights for the day.

Broader Industrial Action Across Belgium

In addition to the aviation sector disruption, Belgium is facing a separate one-day strike by public service unions, including rail workers, scheduled for Monday, October 12. This action is expected to significantly disrupt train services nationwide.

Belgian rail operator SNCB has warned passengers that its schedule will be impacted from 10 PM on Sunday, October 11, through the end of service on Monday, October 12. SNCB stated it would implement "an alternative service in accordance with staff availability" to manage the limited number of trains running.

Limited Air Traffic Impact on Monday

While the rail strike is poised to cause widespread transportation issues, Brussels Airport has indicated that this particular stoppage is unlikely to affect air traffic on Monday, October 12. Air travelers are advised to monitor the status of their flights closely, particularly for Friday's operations, and to confirm ground transportation arrangements if traveling on Monday.

This dual strike action highlights potential challenges for travelers navigating Belgium's transportation networks over the coming days. Passengers are urged to consult airline and airport websites for the latest information and to consider alternative travel plans where necessary.