Brussels Airport strike Friday: 100 flights cancelled, EU261 rights

Brussels Airport strike Friday flights cancelled: the airport has confirmed some 100 flights will not operate on Friday 9 October, according to The Independent. That is lower than the 140 first reported earlier in the week. The cancellations follow a strike by staff at ground handler Alyzia, who are joining Belgium’s national industrial action.

The latest reports are more specific than the earlier ones about who is affected, including UK travellers. Flights handled by rival company Aviapartner are not affected, and that includes British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, Tui and Wizz Air, according to The Independent. Passengers with cancelled flights may also have rights to a refund, rerouting and compensation under EU law, which is covered below.

Brussels Airport strike Friday: 100 flights cancelled, what is confirmed

Brussels Airport confirmed the figure of 100 to The Independent. The airport expects only half of the flights handled by Alyzia to operate as planned, with the rest cancelled, and some 400 flights will still operate on Friday. The airport said: “We regret the inconvenience caused by this union action.”

The figure of 140 came from Anadolu Agency on Tuesday 6 October, which cited the airport operator, and Travel Daily Media later attributed it to Belgian media reports. The legal site Diplomacy and Law noted that the airport had not confirmed a definitive total at the time it wrote. The 100 figure is the airport’s own, so we have used it as the current number.

Brussels Airlines, Emirates and United Airlines are among the airlines that could be affected because they use Alyzia’s services, The Independent reported. Travel Daily Media said around 40% of Brussels Airlines’ scheduled flights on Friday are affected, out of roughly 30,000 passengers the airline expects to carry that day. The airline says affected passengers will be contacted with alternative travel options or the possibility of a refund.

The disruption extends beyond the airport. A large demonstration is planned in central Brussels on Friday, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has warned that public transport and other public services will be affected. Its advice says: “Monitor local news and check with your provider regarding potential delays and closures.”

EU261 compensation: what passengers may be owed

Diplomacy and Law, a legal commentary site, says passengers on cancelled flights may be entitled to reimbursement, alternative transport and assistance under EU Regulation 261/2004, regardless of whether the airline caused the disruption. The regulation also provides financial compensation of €250, €400 or €600 in qualifying cases. Airlines can avoid paying compensation when a cancellation results from extraordinary circumstances that reasonable measures could not have prevented.

The site says a strike by an external ground handler raises a particular legal question, because the disruption may start outside the airline’s control without removing its other obligations to passengers. The sources we have seen do not say how airlines will treat this strike, and no airline has been quoted on compensation. Brussels Airlines has said it is not taking part in the action, according to Diplomacy and Law.

On scope, the site says the regulation generally covers passengers departing from airports in the European Union, whatever their nationality, so a passenger leaving Brussels for London would fall within it. Responsibility rests mainly with the operating airline, and using a ground-handling contractor does not automatically shift that duty to the contractor. The site’s coverage focuses on departures from Brussels, and it does not address inbound flights.

On refunds, Diplomacy and Law says passengers can choose between reimbursement, ordinarily within seven days, and rerouting. Airlines cannot require vouchers instead, as these need the passenger’s signed agreement. As a purely illustrative sum, if four people on one booking each qualified for the lowest €250 payment, the total would be €1,000, and at €600 each it would be €2,400. Whether any payment is due would depend on the airline’s decision or a later challenge.

What UK travellers should check before Friday

Start by finding out who handles your flight, as that matters more than who sold you the ticket. Brussels Airport has published a list of the airlines operating at its base, with each one’s handler and contact details, so passengers can check whether their flight may be affected. If your airline is handled by Aviapartner, the airport does not expect it to be affected.

Do not wait for the departure board to confirm a cancellation. The airport says its flight overview will show cancellations only after the airline has registered them, so a flight that still appears to be running may yet be cancelled. Brussels Airport says affected passengers will be contacted directly by their airline, and Brussels Airlines customers can also check their status through its My Booking service.

If your flight is cancelled, decide whether you want a refund or a new flight, and get the choice in writing. Keep your booking reference, any messages from the airline and receipts for meals or other costs, since you will need them for a claim. If you are travelling to the airport, the airport advises checking the websites of De Lijn, MIVB/STIB and NMBS/SNCB in advance and planning your journey accordingly.

What happens next

The immediate deadline is Friday 9 October, when the Alyzia strike and the demonstration in central Brussels take place. Airlines should be registering cancellations in the airport’s system up to and during that day. Those with affected bookings can expect to hear from their carrier, according to the airport.

Further trade union action is planned for Monday 12 October. Brussels Airport expects no impact on flights, although public transport disruption is anticipated. The Independent notes that this is the latest in a string of nationwide strikes in Belgium this year, with earlier action on 12 March and 12 May, and that Brussels South Charleroi airport had cancellations last month when its air traffic controllers went on strike.

The sources do not say whether the airport’s figure of 100 will change as airlines register their cancellations, or how airlines will handle compensation claims. We will update this report if airlines or the airport publish more detail.

Your questions answered

How many flights are cancelled at Brussels Airport on Friday?

Brussels Airport confirmed to The Independent that some 100 flights are cancelled on Friday 9 October. Anadolu Agency had earlier reported around 140. The airport also said some 400 flights will still operate, and that only about half of the flights handled by Alyzia are expected to run as planned.

Will British Airways, easyJet or Ryanair flights be affected?

Not according to the airport. Flights handled by Aviapartner are not affected, and The Independent says this includes British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, Tui and Wizz Air. Brussels Airlines, Emirates and United Airlines use Alyzia and could be affected, so check with your airline.

Can I get compensation if my flight is cancelled?

Possibly. Diplomacy and Law says EU rules provide €250, €400 or €600 in qualifying cases, but airlines can avoid paying if the cause was extraordinary circumstances. Whether a ground handler’s strike counts is not settled in the sources. Refunds or rerouting and meals are separate rights that apply either way.