Belgium National Strike Shuts Airports And Trains

Published on Nov 26, 2025, 11:07 am CST

8 min read

Key points

Belgium's three day national strike from November 23 to 26, 2025 is halting most flights and trains on the final day
Brussels Airport has canceled all departing flights on November 26 and most arrivals are also cut, with airlines rerouting or refunding passengers
Brussels South Charleroi Airport has suspended all operations on November 26 because security and ground staff are striking
SNCB is running only a limited timetable across Belgium and Eurostar has reduced Brussels services, especially on the Brussels Paris corridor
Travelers with urgent trips in Belgium, France, Germany, or the Netherlands should consider rerouting via other hubs or shifting travel to November 27 or later

Impact

Where Impacts Are Most Likely: The heaviest disruption is at Brussels Airport, Brussels South Charleroi Airport, and on intercity rail and Eurostar routes touching Brussels Midi
Best Times To Travel: Whenever possible, shift departures and arrivals to November 27 or later, or travel early on November 23 before the 22:00 strike window begins
Connections And Misconnect Risk: Same day flight and rail connections via Brussels carry a high misconnect risk, so travelers should add long buffers or rebook via alternate hubs
Onward Travel And Changes: Expect limited local trains, metros, and buses, and build in extra time or budget for taxis, rideshares, or overnight stops when rebooking
Ground Transport And Roadblocks: Allow extra time around ports and industrial areas, where union actions are slowing freight traffic and could create local road bottlenecks
What Travelers Should Do Now: Check airline and train operator apps, confirm whether your service is canceled, rebook through open hubs, and avoid nonessential travel through Belgium on November 26

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Travelers passing through Belgium face a near shutdown of flights and heavily disrupted rail links on Wednesday November 26, 2025, as a three day national strike over austerity and labor reforms reaches its peak across the country. Brussels Airport (BRU) has canceled all departing flights and most arrivals, while Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) has suspended its schedule because security and ground handling staff have walked off the job. National rail operator SNCB, high speed operator Eurostar, and local transport networks are running sharply reduced timetables, so travelers with fixed events or connections now need to rebuild itineraries, add buffers, or reroute via other hubs in Belgium, France, Germany, or the Netherlands.

In practical terms, the Belgium national strike flights and trains disruption turns November 26 into a partial transport blackout, with only skeleton air and rail links operating and most passengers needing to change plans or delay trips.

Strike Timing, Unions, And Scope

Belgium's three main union confederations, including FGTB, CSC, and CGSLB, called the nationwide action to oppose Prime Minister Bart De Wever's austerity program, which includes labor market and pension reforms, higher taxes, and spending cuts designed to shrink the national deficit by 2029. The strike runs from Sunday November 23 at 22:00 until the end of service on Wednesday November 26, covering three full working days in which rail staff, airport workers, teachers, and other public sector employees participate.

From the first night of the strike, schools, public transport, and parts of the private sector have been hit, with the final day expected to be the most disruptive as union walkouts converge on major rallies in Brussels and other cities. The U.S. Embassy in Brussels and other diplomatic missions had already warned citizens earlier in November to expect air travel and public transportation disruption from November 24 through November 26, and to plan extra time for journeys.

Airport Impacts At Brussels And Charleroi

Brussels Airport (BRU), Belgium's main international gateway, announced in advance that it would halt all departing flights on Wednesday November 26 because security and handling staff were joining the strike. On the eve of the action, the airport and airlines then canceled 110 of 203 incoming flights, leaving only 93 arrivals planned, so most passengers either lost their flights entirely or switched to alternative dates or routes.

On the day itself, the combination of canceled departures, sharply reduced arrivals, and limited ground transport leaves Brussels Airport operating at a fraction of normal capacity. British Airways has canceled all London Heathrow to Brussels rotations for November 26, Brussels Airlines has curtailed some UK links, and Ryanair and other budget carriers have trimmed short haul services as crews and handling agents stay off the job.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), a key low cost hub dominated by Ryanair, has gone even further, suspending all departures and arrivals on November 26 because it cannot field sufficient staff for safe operations. UK facing routes from Manchester and Edinburgh into Charleroi, along with dozens of intra European flights, are among those grounded.

Other Belgian airports remain open but cannot fully compensate for the loss of Brussels and Charleroi. Antwerp International Airport (ANR) and Ostend Bruges International Airport (OST) report normal or near normal operations, yet their route networks are far smaller and seat availability is limited, especially for last minute rebookings.

For travelers already in Belgium, the practical effect is that same day international flying from Brussels or Charleroi on November 26 is almost impossible. Only a small number of inbound flights are still operating, primarily from nearby European hubs, and onward connections remain at risk if ground staff or border control queues are short staffed.

Rail, Eurostar, And Local Transport

Rail disruption mirrors the aviation picture. SNCB, the Belgian national rail operator, confirms that train availability is limited from Sunday November 23 at 22:00 through the last train on Wednesday November 26, with an alternative timetable based on available staff. Euronews reporting indicates that only around 20 percent of usual services are running, and that the reduced timetable covers all three days of the walkout.

High speed and international services are also affected. Eurostar has warned customers of strike action between November 24 and 26 and notes a limited service across the Belgian network, with delays and schedule changes flagged on its live updates page. Separate scheduling guidance shows that only half of Eurostar's Brussels-Paris trains are operating during the strike period, roughly three quarters of services on Brussels-Amsterdam and Brussels-London are preserved, and only about 20 percent of trains on the Brussels-Liège-Germany axis are running.

Within Belgium's cities, tram, metro, and bus networks are running reduced frequencies or are partially shut, particularly in Brussels, Antwerp, and Liège, as local transport staff join picket lines. Travelers who rely on a local connection to reach remaining trains or flights should factor in additional time and have taxi, rideshare, or walking alternatives ready.

Road, Port, And Local Service Effects

Although Belgium's highways are not formally blocked for the entire period, port traffic and some industrial corridors are experiencing slowdowns as union actions extend to logistics and freight. Coverage of the strike's first days shows partial disruption at the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge, along with scattered bottlenecks on approaches to industrial zones. For self drive travelers, that means allowing extra time around major ring roads, freight corridors, and access routes to ports and logistics parks.

Beyond transport, schools, municipal offices, and some private businesses are closed or operating with limited staff. Travelers who need in person services, including consular appointments or visa centers, should reconfirm openings and reschedule non urgent visits for after the strike.

Rebooking, Refunds, And Passenger Rights

For flights, airlines are treating the national strike as an extraordinary circumstance tied to labor action that is largely outside their direct control. As a result, passengers are being offered rebooking options or refunds, but cash compensation under EU261 is unlikely in most cases. British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, and other carriers serving Brussels and Charleroi are contacting affected customers with options to move to later dates or alternate routes, although last minute availability is tight for popular city pairs.

On the rail side, Eurostar is offering free exchanges or rerouting for passengers on canceled or heavily delayed trains, with warnings that remaining seats around the strike window are already scarce. SNCB advises travelers to consult its online journey planner, where the adapted service is published 24 hours in advance, and to check fare rules for any flexible ticket or pass products that allow changes without penalties.

Travelers using rail passes or multi operator tickets booked through third party platforms should check both the rail operator's disruption page and the reseller's change policy, since refund pathways differ depending on how the ticket was issued.

Rerouting Options For Time Sensitive Trips

For travelers who must be in Belgium, France, Germany, or the Netherlands on November 26, the most reliable strategy is often to route through a non Belgian hub and complete the final leg by train or road after the strike ends. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), Frankfurt Airport (FRA), and Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) remain fully open, with onward rail links that are likely to recover faster from the strike than Brussels itself.

For example, a traveler bound for Brussels can rebook into Paris or Amsterdam on November 26, overnight near the station, then take a morning train into Belgium on November 27 once more of the SNCB timetable is restored. Those heading to EU institutions in Brussels may want to shift crucial meetings to video or push in person visits to later in the week, rather than gambling on same day arrival during the final strike day.

Within Belgium, travelers already holding hotel reservations should speak with their properties about late arrivals and flexible check in, since reaching city centers from open airports or border hubs may require longer bus or taxi rides than usual. Many hotels are used to strike disruptions and may be willing to relax cut off times or waive no show penalties when travelers provide documentation of canceled flights or trains.

Planning Ahead And Further Reading

Anyone planning winter and early spring trips that rely on Belgian hubs should treat this week's action as a reminder that labor disputes are now a recurring structural risk across European transport. Adept Traveler's earlier coverage of November strike warnings in Belgium outlines how unions escalated from targeted actions to this full national shutdown. For a broader checklist on building redundancy into your itinerary, see our evergreen guide How To Travel During Europe Rail And Air Strikes, which walks through backup routings, insurance checks, and communication plans.

Travelers who do not need to be in Belgium on November 26 are best served by staying out of the system altogether, shifting trips to later in the week, and using today instead to rebook, document extra costs, and confirm that loyalty points or companion vouchers are preserved when changing tickets.