United Airlines Issues Flex Rebooking Amid Rome, Brussels Airport Strikes

May 14, 2026 – United Airlines Offers Flexible Rebooking Amid European Airport Strikes

May 14, 2026 — United Airlines has issued travel alerts and is offering flexible rebooking for passengers impacted by upcoming aviation strikes at Rome's Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) and Brussels International Airport (BRU).

An eight-hour strike by air traffic controllers is scheduled for May 11 at Fiumicino, expected to cause significant flight disruptions to and from the popular European hub. Subsequently, a nationwide protest on May 12 in Belgium is anticipated to affect Brussels International Airport, with security and ground handling staff involved in the industrial action. Travelers are advised to monitor their flight status and review United's rebooking policies.

Rome Fiumicino Faces 8-Hour Strike Disruption

Rome's Fiumicino Airport is preparing for an eight-hour air traffic control strike on May 11, ranging from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to reports. This industrial action, involving ENAV employees, is projected to result in a surge of delays and cancellations across Italy. ITA Airways has already reported cancelling at least 38% of its flights scheduled for May 11 due to the impending strike.

United Airlines, which operates five main nonstop routes to Rome with 5-7 daily arrivals, has proactively responded by offering flexible rebooking for flights to Rome on May 10 and May 11. Passengers with affected flights can reschedule their trips with waived change fees and fare differences, provided the new United flight departs between May 8, 2026, and May 15, 2026, and remains within the same cabin and between the original cities.

United's routes to Rome include services from Newark (EWR), Washington Dulles (IAD), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), and San Francisco (SFO).

Brussels Airport Prepares for Widespread Disruptions

A nationwide protest in Belgium on May 12, 2026, is set to create significant disruptions at Brussels International Airport. Security and ground handling staff participation in the strike is expected to severely impact operations, with initial estimates suggesting less than 50% of departing flights will be able to operate that day.

Brussels Airport authorities are working with partners to maximize operational capacity while prioritizing safety and minimizing excessive waiting times. Airlines have been requested to limit the number of departing passenger flights.

United Airlines, which maintains approximately 25 nonstop flights per week to Brussels, including 11 weekly flights from Washington Dulles (IAD) and seven from Newark International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport, has extended flexible rebooking options for flights to Brussels on May 11 and May 12. Affected passengers can reschedule their United flights departing between May 5, 2026, and May 15, 2026, without change fees or fare differences, provided the booking remains in the same cabin and between the same cities.

Ongoing European Travel Alerts from United

United Airlines has kept its travel advisories for several European hubs active in light of these and other potential industrial actions. The airline continues to monitor the situation and encourages passengers to consult its official travel alerts page for the most current information regarding flight status and rebooking options.

While industry data from FlightAware on May 10 indicated low overall disruption numbers for United Airlines, with 44 delays and 8 cancellations reported that morning, Rome's Fiumicino Airport was noted as having the second-highest number of departing flight cancellations globally for May 11. The persistent nature of these strikes, with Brussels Airport experiencing its ninth strike since last year, underscores the ongoing challenges for air travel in the region.