Brussels Airport expects around 140 flights to be cancelled on Friday, 9 October 2026, because staff at ground handler Alyzia are set to take part in a national day of union action in Belgium. The airport announced the disruption on Tuesday, according to Belgian news agency Belga, and Brussels Airlines, the airport's largest carrier, says it will cancel around four in ten of its flights that day.
Half of Alyzia's flights affected
Alyzia is one of the two passenger ground handlers at Brussels Airport and works for around 20 airlines there. Its teams take care of baggage and ramp handling, loading and unloading aircraft, de-icing, aircraft cleaning and the transport of cargo and mail. According to the airport, Alyzia will only have limited staffing on Friday. Based on the information currently available, about half of the flights normally handled by Alyzia can operate as planned, while the other half, roughly 140 flights, will have to be cancelled.
Reuters reported that the airport confirmed cancellations on Tuesday without giving a figure in its first statement, while Belgian media put the number at around 140. The final total may still change as airlines rework their schedules.
Flights handled by the airport's other passenger handler, Aviapartner, are not expected to be affected for now. Belgian broadcaster VRT reported that this includes flights operated by Ryanair and TUI fly. Passengers can check which handler serves their flight on the Brussels Airport website, and the airport's flight information will show cancellations once airlines have registered them.
Brussels Airlines cuts around 40% of its schedule
Brussels Airlines, part of the Lufthansa Group, relies on Alyzia for ground handling at its home base. The airline had expected to carry around 30,000 passengers on Friday. Spokesperson Nico Cardone said passengers whose flights are cancelled will be contacted proactively with an alternative travel option, or can choose a refund of their ticket. Travellers can also follow their flight status through "My Booking" on the airline's website.
The airline stressed that it is not involved in the industrial action. "We regret that this is the third time this year that our flight schedule has been seriously disrupted by union action involving external parties," Brussels Airlines said, adding that such actions affect the travel plans of thousands of passengers and have a significant financial impact on the company. It urged trade unions to find ways of making their voices heard without affecting travellers and companies that are not involved in the conflict.
A national day of protest
The walkout is part of wider union protests against measures taken by Belgium's federal government. Trade union ABVV-FGTB is organising a national demonstration in Brussels on Friday, while the ACV-CSC union plans to visit the headquarters of the federal governing parties the same day. The disruption is not limited to the airport: Brussels public transport operator STIB expects major disruption to its bus, tram and metro network because of the strike and the route of the demonstration, which may also make it harder to reach the airport by public transport.
Alyzia has operated at Brussels Airport since 2020 and was awarded a new seven-year handling licence in 2025 that runs until October 2032.
What passengers should do
Anyone flying to or from Brussels on Friday should check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport, and allow extra time for the journey given the expected public transport disruption. Passengers on cancelled Brussels Airlines flights should wait to be contacted about rebooking or use the airline's booking tools to choose an alternative or request a refund.
Friday is a busy day for labour action elsewhere in Europe too: Air Corsica pilots have filed a strike notice running from 9 to 16 October, as we reported in Air Corsica Pilots File Oct 9β16 Strike Notice as Most ATR 72-600s Stay Grounded. We will update this article if Brussels Airport or the airlines publish new figures.
Sources: Brussels Airport via Belga and La DH; Brussels Airlines; Reuters; The Brussels Times; Aviation24.be; VRT NWS.
Comments
Loading commentsβ¦